What Do Snapper Fish Eat?

Snapper are fish of the Lutjanidae family. They typically inhabit seawater, but some snapper live in estuaries and feed on freshwater fish, crustaceans and other foodstuffs.

  1. Crustaceans

    • Snapper fish eat crustaceans such as crabs, shellfish and prawns. Adult red snapper prefer to live in deep, rocky waters and feed upon the crustaceans and fish that live there.

    Other Fish

    • Snapper fish are so called because they hide and snap quickly at other living prey. The snapper's hunting techniques allow it to catch other fish and also worms. The snapper can kill and eat fish even larger than itself.

    Plankton

    • Although they prefer to eat other living things, snapper fish will occasionally eat plankton. The snapper has a large mouth relative to its body, and this is helpful for plankton intake.