The milky stork's diet is diverse. In Malaysia, the core of the diet appears to comprise mudskippers of "Periophthalmus" and Gobiidae 10–23 cm long; although catfish "Arius" spp. may be a main dietary component in South Sumatra. Other prey recorded from South Sumatra include milkfish, giant mudskipper ("Periophthalmodon schlosseri"), mullet species of Moolgards and "Chelon", eel catfish Plotosus canius, fourfinger threadfin Eleutheronema tetradactylum and Chinese silver pomfret Pampus chinesis. Snakes and frogs are reportedly also taken for food, especially to feed to young. Parents feed nestlings large fishes, eels and mudskippers up to 20 cm long. In Sumatra, the elongate mudskipper Pseudapocryptes elongates was the most common prey found in nests These manmade environments may however disfavour breeding.