{"id":1285,"date":"2021-12-27T17:37:54","date_gmt":"2021-12-27T17:37:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interestinganimalfacts.com\/?p=1285"},"modified":"2021-12-27T17:37:56","modified_gmt":"2021-12-27T17:37:56","slug":"what-do-toads-eat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/interestinganimalfacts.com\/what-do-toads-eat\/","title":{"rendered":"What Do Toads Eat?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
It\u2019s important to give your pets the proper food, and toads are no exception. Toads have a specific diet that they need to adhere to so they can stay healthy. But if you\u2019re a first-time toad owner, you might not know the in\u2019s and out\u2019s of what to feed them.
Luckily, we\u2019ve broken down everything you need to know about what toads eat. Not only will this guide tell you what the best diet for a pet toad is, but it will also break down some foods you need to avoid at all costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what is a toad? Toad is the name given to several different species of frogs. They are characterized by their shorter back legs and their rough and bumpy skin.
Contrary to popular belief, toads aren\u2019t separate animals from frogs. Instead, they\u2019re more of a subcategory of frogs. Think of them as squares and rectangles – all toads are frogs, but not all frogs are toads.
Toads are found worldwide and have many different species with various dietary preferences. The most common toad in the USA is the fittingly named American Toad, while other well-known species include the Great Plains Toad and the Western Toad.
Toads are also popular pets, particularly species like the Oriental Fire-bellied Toad (and the American Toad again).
So if you\u2019re looking after a pet toad, or want to know what foods wild toads will eat, this is the guide for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To help you figure out what you should feed a pet toad, you should know what they eat in the wild.
When left to hunt for themselves, toads will try to eat pretty much anything and everything that moves. They also have massive appetites, so will eat whatever they can catch.
After toads complete their metamorphosis, they become carnivorous. Most of the time a wild toad\u2019s diet will consist of insects, although larger species may set their sights on larger prey.
While there are some variations between species, wild toads will eat insects such as crickets, locusts, worms, grubs, and spiders. Larger toads will also eat small lizards, small fish, rodents like mice, and even other amphibians.
Because toads aren\u2019t really picky, the only foods they will avoid (apart from a few exceptions) are prey that can put up a fight. This usually comes down to size, as larger prey is dangerous to fight and harder to eat. Toads might also avoid certain insects with hard or sharp exoskeletons because the food they provide isn\u2019t worth the pain while eating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you have a pet toad of your own, it\u2019s important to make sure you\u2019re feeding them the appropriate foods, as well as the right amount of food. Giving your toad a healthy diet will make sure they live a long and happy life.
You should aim to feed your toad similar foods to what they would have in the wild. This means mostly insects, with some variation based on your toad\u2019s species and size.
If you have a more active toad who prefers to \u2018hunt\u2019 its food, crickets and grasshoppers are great for live feedings. If you drop the bugs in front of your toad or hold them near it with tweezers, it will be able to have more of a chase and movement during feeding.
Toads also enjoy worms as a yummy treat. Toads like several types of worms, but mealworms, super worms, and earthworms provide the most nutrition. Slugs are also a good option, as long as they aren\u2019t too big for the toad to eat.
If you have a larger toad or a big species, you may be able to feed them bigger food and vertebrates. These can be fish such as guppies and minnows, or even small mammals like mice. Some toads also eat lizards, though you should make sure that the lizard is edible and won\u2019t harm the toad.
Smaller and younger toads will need less food and should be given smaller prey as well. Until your toad is large enough to eat crickets or worms, try feeding them flies or ants. These will give your toad the nutrition they need without being a choking risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n