Bullfrogs Diet
The term "bullfrog" refers to a number of large, aggressive types of frogs found all over the world. They are not all related, and live in very different habitats. Bullfrogs do share some common behavioral traits and eat a fairly similar diet, especially in captivity. As a group, these frogs tend to be voracious carnivores, eating nearly anything they can catch. This makes them remarkably easy to keep as pets.
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Types
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Many different types of frog are referred to as bullfrogs. The most common in the pet trade are probably the American bullfrog and African bullfrog. The Asian banded bullfrog, or "chubby frog," is also regularly seen in pet stores. Less commonly seen are the Indian bullfrog and Australian bullfrogs, also called banjo frogs. Several other African species are all called bullfrogs, but most are endangered due to habitat loss.
Size
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Size is one of the biggest factors in the bullfrog diet. Most bullfrogs will eat anything they can fit in their mouths, so feeding is limited by the size of the frog. Asian banded bullfrogs are among the smallest types available in the pet trade, at only about 3 1/2 inches long. American bullfrogs are much larger, at 3 1/2 to 6 inches in body length. African bullfrogs are the second largest frogs in the world, with females about 5 inches long and males up to 9 inches in length.
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Benefits
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The voracious appetite and lack of pickiness shown by most bullfrogs makes them extremely easy pets to keep. These aggressive animals will consume nearly any animal food source, including insects, reptiles, birds, amphibians and small rodents. In captivity, they may be fed crickets, frozen feeder mice, mealworms, earthworms, nightcrawlers and many other food sources. Even pet owners in areas without specialty stores should have no problem buying food for their bullfrogs.
Warning
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Bullfrogs can be aggressive not only toward food animals, but also toward anything they regard as a threat. While a bullfrog can't cause serious damage, it does have the ability to deliver a painful bite. Take care when feeding your bullfrog to make sure it doesn't mistake your fingers for food or think you're threatening its meal. Consider using tongs to deliver dead mice and other non-living food, and be aware that your frog may lunge at its food.
Considerations
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The standard bullfrog diet includes other frogs, including frogs of the same species. Never keep bullfrogs together, since the larger one may eat the smaller one. If you choose to breed your bullfrogs, separate them as soon as mating is over, and never allow the parents to have contact with tadpoles or smaller frogs. This reduces the chance that your baby bullfrogs will be devoured.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit bullfrog image by Lucid_Exposure from Fotolia.com
