Objective: The naca fish, Dormitator maculatus, is a species which commercial importance is based exclusively on the extraction of the mature gonads of the females, which reach a high price in the regional market as a gourmet dish. However, there is scarce information regarding its biology. Design/methodology/approach: Their aquaculture potential (survival and growth) was evaluated in a recirculation system, in which the response in captivity of stages of their life cycle (treatments) were tested: T1fry (8.352,83 g), T2juveniles (17.225,13 g) and T3adults (25.556,05 g), in triplicate, for 90 days. Measurements were performed every 15 days, the diet supplied was a commercial balanced feed for tilapia 3.5 mm in diameter (GrowFish® Protein 35%, fat 5.5%), at 1.5% of the biomass which was positively accepted. Results: At the end of the experiment, it was observed that Treatment 1 (fry) presented a greater survival and growth. This result may be related to the fact that the species is very resistant to environmental changes in its natural environment. Limitations on study/implications: However, this growth was slow, which may be since D. maculatus has a stationary diet. Findings/conclusions: The results encourage more studies on its cultivation, such as the influence of environmental conditions on reproduction, which would help to mitigate the pressure on natural populations.