Nibea albiflora is an important cage-cultured fish in the East China Sea. An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of a special formulated feed and chilled trash fish on the growth performance, feed utilization, and muscle nutrient quality of juvenile N. albiflora. A total of 540 healthy yellow drum with an initial body weight of (34.60±0.05) g were randomly divided into three groups, with three replicates per group. The groups were fed either special formulated feed, commercial formulated feed, or chilled trash fish throughout the trial. Results indicated that the weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), and protein efficiency rate (PER) of fish fed special formulated feed were 211.52%, 2.03%/d, and 160.92%, respectively. These values were significantly higher than those of fish fed the chilled trash fish diet (149.97%, 1,64%/d, 67.04%) and the commercial formulated diet (187.33%, 1.88%/d, 144.37%) (P<0.05). The feed conversion rate (FCR) of fish fed chilled trash fish was significantly higher than that of fish fed formulated feed (P<0.05). Fish fed formulated feed exhibited significantly higher hepatosomatic index (HSI) and viscerosomatic index (VSI) compared to those fed chilled trash fish (P<0.05). The muscle lipid content of fish fed the special formulated feed was significantly higher than that of fish fed commercial formulated feed and chilled trash fish, while the muscle moisture content was significantly lower (P<0.05). The total amino acid (TAA), essential amino acid (EAA), arachidonic acid (ARA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) contents of fish fed chilled trash fish were significantly higher than that of fish fed formulated feed (P<0.05). Histological staining of muscle tissue with H.E revealed that muscle fibers of fish fed formulated feed and chilled trash fish were irregular polygons with clear texture and tight arrangement. However, the muscle fiber density of fish fed chilled trash fish was significantly higher than that of fish fed formulated feed (P<0.05). In conclusion, the growth performance and feed utilization of fish fed the special formulated feed were superior to that of fish fed chilled trash fish. However, the muscle amino acid and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) contents of fish fed chilled trash fish were higher than that of fish fed the special formulated feed. This study provides a theoretical basis for the efficient and healthy culture of N. albiflora and the optimization of its formulated feed.