I've not had much luck with leaving dead food on a stick in the tank (no clue why this is but it has been true for several species) with the exception of an open clam placed near the den with Shiitake. This was not an intended experiment though. Shiitake had taken the live clam to the back of the tank and may have pulled at it enough to weaken but not kill it. I retrieved it and put it in the front and it died the next day. I placed the open clam near her den and it was fully consumed by the morning. Pesky (the serpent star) investigated it but could not have cleaned out the shell so I assume Shiitake ate it.