Optimal Frog and Toad Diets: Nutritious Foods for Common Amphibian Pets – Part 1

Many frogs and toads that are collected or purchased and kept as pets will greedily accept crickets and mealworms, the food items most easily obtained from pet stores.  Most thrive on this fare for a time, but eventually develop nutritional disorders and expire long before they have reached their potential life-span.  Following are some useful tips for those keeping American Bullfrogs, White’s Treefrogs, Budgett’s Frogs, most Toads and similar species.  Please see my other Amphibian Care Articles for information on feeding Poison Frogs, Mantellas, African Clawed Frogs, Horned Frogs and others requiring specialized diets, or write in with your questions.

Variety, the Key to Good Health

A varied diet is essential if you are to have success in keeping frogs long-term.  I have observed wild Marine Toads consuming over 2 dozen insect species in a single evening, and other researchers have documented a huge range of prey items.  Always strive to provide your frogs and toads with as many invertebrate species as possible.

Collecting Insects and other Invertebrates

I’ve done well by relying upon wild caught invertebrates during the warmer months and saving crickets, waxworms and roaches for winter use.  However, even the occasional beetle or moth plucked from a window screen will go a long way in ensuring your pet’s good health.

Collecting insects is actually quite interesting and a great deal of fun.  I’ve written a number of articles on insect collecting techniques and insect traps.  Please check them out when you have a moment – you may discover a new hobby in the process!

Commercially-Reared Insects

You should allow insects purchased as frog food to feed upon a healthy diet for several days, in order to increase their nutritional value (this process is often termed “gut loading”).  Please see the articles referenced below to learn about the proper care of crickets and mealworms and the use of commercially available cricket foods.

I powder most store-bought insects with supplements, alternating among Reptivite with D3,  ReptiCalcium and Reptocal.  I do not use supplements when feeding wild-caught invertebrates.