Threadfin shad Dorosoma petenense were tested to determine if they would eat benthic organisms in both the presence and absence of zooplankton. They deliberately fed on chironomids in a sand substrate when no other food was available, but when offered a choice, selected Daphnia pulex over the chironomids. When the daphnids were all consumed, the fish resumed benthic foraging. Thus, threadfin shad can shift their diet to take advantage of other available foods when their primary food is lacking.