Abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different dietary protein and lipid levels on the growth performance, hepatic antioxidant capacity, and protein-lipid metabolism of juvenile Pelophylax nigromaculatus. A 4×2 factorial design was used, with dietary protein levels set at 38.5%, 41%, 43.5%, and 46%, and dietary lipid levels of 8% and 10%, resulting in the formulation of 8 experimental diets. Juvenile P. nigromaculatus with an initial body weight of (15.00±0.10) g were fed the diets for 8 weeks. The results indicated that the average weight gain rate (WGR) initially increased and then decreased with increasing dietary protein and lipid levels. The 41P10L group achieved the highest WGR, but no significant difference was observed compared with the 38.5P10L and 41P8L groups (P>0.05). Additionally, the 38.5P10L group showed the highest protein efficiency ratio (PER) (P<0.05). Among all groups, the 46% protein group had the highest average contents of serum total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), albumin (ALB), and urea nitrogen (BUN), while the 43.5% protein group exhibited the highest average contents of serum triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)—with these respective indices in both groups being significantly higher than those in the 38.5% protein group (P<0.05). The results of oil red O staining indicated that lipid deposition in the liver of P. nigromaculatus was aggravated at the 10% lipid level, particularly under 43.5% and 46% protein levels (P<0.05). The average serum activities of glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) in the 46% protein group were significantly higher than those in the 38.5% protein group (P<0.05). Additionally, the average activities of intestinal digestive enzymes, hepatic antioxidant enzymes, and the malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased with the elevation of dietary protein and lipid levels. Regarding gene expression, the relative expression levels of hepatic mtor and s6k in the 46% protein group were significantly higher than those in the 38.5% protein group (P<0.05), while the hepatic cpt1 expression level in the 10% lipid group was significantly higher than that in the 8% lipid group (P<0.05). In conclusion, although a dietary protein level of 41% supported higher WGR, it resulted in reduced PER. In contrast, dietary protein levels of 43.5% and 46% were more prone to induce aggravated hepatic lipid deposition and hepatic injury. Considering comprehensive factors including growth performance, protein utilization efficiency, and hepatic health, the optimal dietary protein level for P. nigromaculatus was determined to be 38.5%, with an optimal dietary lipid level of 10%.