"s. ciliata" is a benthic carnivore that feeds predominantly on polychaetes and various crustaceans. like other species of "sillago", the diet of the species is related to the size and age of the individual, with three distinct size classes identified in a study conducted in botany bay, nsw. the smallest fish of 0–10 cm take large amount of amphipods and few polychaetes, while fish between 11 and 20 cm consume mostly neried polychaetes and few amphipods. the largest fish over 21 cm take large amounts of bivalve molluscs and shrimps of the genus callianassa.