Starfish are carnivorous marine animals that primarily eat slow-moving or stationary prey such as clams, mussels, oysters, coral, sponges, sand dollars, and other small invertebrates. They use their tube feet with suction cups to pry open the hard shells of mollusks like clams and mussels. Once they create a small opening, starfish evert (push out) their stomachs through their mouths into the shell to externally digest the soft tissues of their prey. After digestion, they retract their stomachs back into their bodies to complete the process internally

. Some starfish also consume dead or decomposing animals and occasionally injured fish. While most are carnivores, a few species supplement their diet with algae or organic detritus. Their feeding method allows them to consume prey larger than their mouths by digesting it externally

. In summary, starfish mainly eat:

• Clams, mussels, oysters (bivalves)
• Coral polyps
• Sponges
• Sand dollars
• Other small slow-moving or sessile animals

Their unique feeding involves prying open shells and digesting prey externally by everting their stomachs