 Black scabbardfish have 35 or more prey categories, including crustaceans, cephalopods, mesopelagic fish, shrimp, teleost fish, and blue whiting.Blue whiting may be a preferred prey; other mesopelagic fish are also preferred.When black scabbardfish are not feeding on these, they may chase after baitfish, feeding on "Sardina pilchardus", "Scomber colias", or squid.