In this article, we’ll answer the question:
“What do frogs eat?”
First, you’ll find a short summary of what frogs eat in nature, then get a list of a frog’s favorite foods that make up a typical frog diet. And finally, answers to common questions about frog feeding habits and nutrition.
Frogs are carnivorous amphibians composing the order Anura. Frogs account for around 88% of extant amphibian species. And there is no formal distinction between frogs and toads in biological taxonomy.
A frog will eat different food as it transitions through the life cycle from tadpole to metamorphosis to adult.
What Do Frogs Eat?
Frogs eat insects like ants, flies, and moths as well as snails, slugs, worms, and other frogs. This prey is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and calcium, which frogs need for healthy growth. A frog’s diet is determined by the availability of prey in its habitat.
Frog Diet (Favorite Food)
- Ants
- Aphids
- Crickets
- Fruit flies
- Grasshoppers
- Locus
- Mealworns
- Mosquito larvae
- Moths
- Slugs
- Spiders
- Worms
- Other frogs
How Often Does a Frog Eat?
A frog often eat several times per week at intervals of every two to three days. The feeding frequency is different for young frogs as they eat at least once a day.
How Much Do Frogs Eat Per Day?
Frogs eat 2-3 insects per day on average when the prey is large like crickets. However, the amount of food a frog eats depends on the diet and species and some frogs can consume up to 100 small insects on a daily basis.
How Long Can Frogs Live Without Food?
Frogs can live 3-4 weeks without food. The duration that an adult frog can survive without food depends on its size, health, and age. Adult frogs can survive without food during hibernation for extended periods because of reduced metabolic rate and minimal activity.
According to the National Wildlife Federation, wood frogs have adapted to cold climates by freezing over the winter. They stop breathing, and their hearts stop beating, which lasts until the weather warms when they start feeding and mating.
Do Frogs Eat Plants?
Frogs do eat plants as tadpoles when they go through the herbivorous phase and typically eat soft plant matter like algae, duckweed, and moss. However, an adult frog’s diet is limited to non-plant food such as insects, snails, slugs, and other frogs because they are entirely carnivorous.
Do Frogs Eat Grass?
Frogs do not eat grass and only eat animals because they are carnivorous amphibians. A frog cannot eat grass because the digestive system cannot digest the main component of grasses which is lignin.
Do Frogs Eat Fruit?
Frogs do not eat fruit and you should not feed your frog fruits or vegetables. Adult frogs are strictly carnivorous and can only digest and eat other insects and animals.
What Animals Eat Frogs?
Frogs are prey to a number of different species.
You can visit our other guide on what animals eat frogs to find out which predators actively feed on these amphibians.
Frog Eating Habits and Diet Summary
You now know what do frogs eat in the wild as well as the typical food in a frog diet.
As you discovered in this guide, frogs are carnivores that prey on various species for nutrition with a frog’s favorite food being things like ants, worms, and other frogs.
I’m the lead editor and writer for Animal Answer Guide. I enjoy sharing expert knowledge on the various characteristics of common species within the five distinct groups of animals: amphibians, birds, fish, mammals, and reptiles.
