Did you know frogs can be some of the coolest and most entertaining pets? If you’re considering getting a pet frog, it’s essential to understand what they eat to keep them healthy and happy. So, you may think, what do frogs eat?
In the wild, frogs eat many types of insects. They like snails, spiders, and worms. Tadpoles, which are baby frogs, eat soft plants. Frogs use their sticky, long tongues to catch food.
Frogs are hunters and only eat things that move. This means you will need to feed your pet frog live bugs.
Want to know more about what to feed frogs and how much to give them? Keep reading this article.
What Do Frogs Eat?
Frogs will eat almost anything they can catch. In the wild, they eat spiders, grasshoppers, and butterflies. They eat anything that fits in their mouths.
Aquatic frogs eat small creatures that live in water, like aquatic invertebrates.
Different types of frogs have their diets. But most pet frogs eat a mix of similar foods.
What Can You Feed Your Frog?
Here’s a simple guide to what frogs eat, broken down by food type:
Crickets
Crickets are the main food for pet frogs. They’re not the healthiest but easy to buy or raise at home. Always gut-load crickets before feeding them to your frog.
Mealworms and Waxworms
These are a tasty treat for frogs. You can find them in pet stores or raise them yourself. Mealworms from bait shops might not be gut-loaded, so keep that in mind.
Locusts and Grasshoppers | What Do Frogs Eat?
These add variety to your frog’s diet. They’re harder to find in pet stores, but the nutrition is worth it.
Caterpillars and Worms
These are becoming easier to find at pet stores. Ensure the caterpillars are the right size, as some can be too big for your frog to eat.
Bloodworms, Brine Shrimp, and Blackworms
Aquatic frogs mainly eat these small worms. They are perfect for frogs that live in water.
Mice
Big frogs, like Pacman frogs or African bullfrogs, eat mice. Start with “pinkies” (newborn mice) as your frog grows. You can buy them live or frozen, but most frogs prefer live mice. Larger frogs might eat “fuzzies” or even adult mice. If feeding mice sounds gross, choose a smaller frog species instead.
Tips for Safely Feeding Your Pet Frog
- Only feed your frog food that is smaller than its head. Bigger food can hurt your frog’s intestines.
- Try to buy gut-loaded insects. These insects are much healthier for your frog.
- If you don’t use gut-loaded insects, your frog might not get enough calcium. This can cause bone disease.
- Insects that are not gut-loaded also have fewer vitamins and nutrients your frog needs.
- You can “dust” your frog’s food with vitamins. This is helpful if you raise the insects yourself.
- Gut-loading and dusting the food are the best ways to keep your frog healthy.
How Much and When to Feed Your Pet Frog
How much and how often you feed your frog depends on its species, age, and energy level. Be careful not to overfeed your frog, as they can become overweight.
- High-Energy Frogs
High-energy frogs, dwarf frogs, and young frogs (under 16 weeks) need food more often. Feed them every day or even twice a day. You can leave a little food, like fruits or veggies, in the tank for insects to eat.
- Medium-Energy Frogs
Feed medium-energy frogs every other day or every third day. Give them as many insects as they can eat in 15 seconds. Take out any leftover bugs. Ensure your frog has enough food, but not so much that insects are still in the tank the next morning.
- Large Frogs
Big frogs, like those that eat mice, need food less often. They might only eat once a week or every other week.
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Do Frogs Drink Water?
Frogs don’t drink water with their mouths. Instead, they absorb water through their skin.
To keep your frog healthy, keep the tank humid. Always give your frog clean, dechlorinated water. You can buy a dechlorinator at an aquarium store.
Add a small pool of water to the tank or mist it often—doing both is even better.
What Can Frogs Not Eat?
Never feed your frog fruits, veggies, or table scraps. Don’t give them wild bugs, either. Wild insects may have pesticides, which are harmful to frogs.
Conclusion: What Do Frogs Eat?
Frogs are excellent pets if you take good care of them. They need live bugs like crickets and worms to stay healthy. Make sure the bugs are safe and full of nutrients.
Keep their tank clean and humid with fresh water. Never give frogs wild bugs, fruits, or human food. Your frog will be happy and healthy if you feed them right and care for them well.