[2] Elpidia minutissima feeds on detritus on the seabed, the result of "marine snow" consisting of mucus, faeces and organic debris, that sink into the depths from surface waters.

[2] It plays an important part in the processing, utilization and redistribution of particles of organic material that has fallen to the sea bed.

[3] Elpidia minutissima is one of a number of echinoderm species that show great variations in population density.

Researchers in one study found that, over a sixteen-year period, two deep sea holothurians, E. minutissima and Peniagone vitrea, underwent a decline in density of the order of one to two magnitudes.

It has been hypothesized that two factors that increase the likelihood of large swings in population are broadcast spawning and the possession of planktotrophic larvae.