Toad Diet
Toads are amphibians that are often characterized by their bumpy skin and short, powerful legs. Their skin retains moisture and allows them to spend more time on land than the similar frog. Unlike frogs, many toads have poison glands behind their eyes for protection. Learning more about what toads eat can be helpful in learning to keep them as pets.
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Features
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The toad is entirely carnivorous when it is fully grown. In the wild, toads largely eat insects or worms, but they are also opportunistic feeders who will eat any animal that can fit into their mouths. For example, the large cane toad will eat mice, small lizards and birds if given the chance. In captivity, crickets can make up the majority of a toad's diet, along with occasional wax worms or meal worms for treats.
Location
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In the wild, toads tend to spend their time on moist land that provides them with plenty of prey. They are found in locations that range from parks and yards to mountainous forests and prairies. American toads hunt for their prey at night and spend the day nestled underneath leaf litter or ground plants.
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Time Frame
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In the wild, all toads will eat whenever they can, but when you are keeping a toad in captivity, regulating what it eats and when will keep it healthier. A toad in captivity can subsist on between three and six food items, such as crickets, every two to three days when it is an adult. This is a general guideline that works for most adult toads, but you may wish to experiment to find out what amount of food your toad prefers.
Size
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Toads will try to eat things that are too large for them, so take care to size the toad's meal appropriately. For small toads that are under 1 inch in length, flightless fruit flies and three-day-old crickets are an ideal diet until they grow larger. Crickets and other food insects can be purchased from any pet store that caters to the reptile trade, and crickets can also be purchased in a variety of different sizes. If you are raising toads from tadpoles, they can be fed small amounts of boiled lettuce until they are fully developed and ready for insects.
Considerations
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When feeding your toad, look for a vitamin and mineral supplement that is intended for amphibians. A toad's diet in the wild is varied, and you can avoid vitamin or mineral deficiencies by supplementing your animal's food with calcium or Vitamin D, both of which will be available at the pet store. Use the supplement once every two to four feedings for an adult and more often for a young toad.
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References
- Photo Credit toad image by Witold Krasowski from Fotolia.com
