The Best Frog Food
Whether you have an aquatic, arboreal, or terrestrial frog, high-quality food is essential to keeping them happy and healthy throughout their lives. Most species eat live bugs and, in some cases, baby mice, but keeping pre-made and preserved food on hand is a great way to add variety while ensuring you always have food on hand, even if live bugs aren't readily available. You just have to find one your frog likes.
What to Look For
As you look at your cute little froggy friend and think about what food is best for them, you may want to keep three key details in mind. These include your frog’s species, how many you have, and what foods they already eat and enjoy. For example, if you have aquatic African Dwarf frogs, you may want to check out the fast-sinking Zoo Med Aquatic frog and tadpole food. On the other hand, Amzey’s fresh mealworms are your best bet for picky eaters who prefer live bugs. For a more in-depth look at some excellent options, keep reading below.
Fluker’s Freeze-Dried Insects
Bugs are the preferred food for all types of frogs. That’s why Fluker’s freeze-dried insects are one of our top go-to products. You can choose from mealworms, crickets, grasshoppers, river shrimp, and soldier worms. Or, you can get all five to add variety to your pet’s diet. Either way, they’ll provide plenty of protein and other necessary nutrients.
Pros:
- These freeze-dried bugs are appropriate for all frog species. You can put them into an aquatic tank, add them to a food bowl, or tong-feed them.
- You can feed them as a primary diet or as an occasional snack. They last a long time because they have no moisture content.
Cons:
- The hard, dry texture can be a turn-off for frogs if they’ve only eaten live bugs in the past.
Zoo Med Aquatic Frog and Tadpole Food
Nutrition-packed pellets
Zoo Med’s micro pellets are ideal for aquatic frogs and tadpoles. They’re high in protein and other essentials to keep your frog healthy and full of energy, and the fast-sinking action helps them get past any fish or other animals swimming around the tank. Meanwhile, the tiny size makes them the perfect size for Dwarfs and juveniles.
Pros:
- We don’t know if it’s the smell, taste, or both, but most frogs seem to love these pellets even if they’ve turned their nose up at other pellet foods in the past.
- Although these are technically for frogs, they’re also safe for their tank buddies, so you don’t need to worry about a fish getting a hold of some.
Cons:
- Your tank water can get stinky if your frogs don’t eat the pellets before they dissolve.
Invert Aquatics Soft Frog Bites
Follow your nose
Like many pets, one of the first things to entice a frog to try new food is the scent. Invert Aquatics’ soft frog bites have you covered. They have a stinky odor and soft texture that encourages most frogs to at least give them a shot. You can add them to food bowls, break them up for little frogs, or even sink them into a tank for aquatics.
Pros:
- These sink straight down into the water and bypass fish and other animals. This allows them to reach your frogs in a flash.
- Many people find that these pellets can get their frogs to eat, even if they’ve been avoiding other foods and bugs.
Cons:
- You may need to break these pellets into smaller pieces for small tree or aquatic frogs. They’re on the bigger size.
Hikari Pac Attack
Targeted formula
Pacman frogs are a popular pet choice, but they have some very specific dietary requirements. That’s where Hikari Pac Attack comes in. This formula offers all of the protein and nutrients Pacman and other large frog species need to stay healthy while helping them grow and maintain their energy levels. And because these food sticks mimic live food once you soak them, most frogs eat them readily.
Pros:
- Many frog owners have noticed their Pacman and horned frogs growing much faster once they started feeding these. They can also help enhance their colors.
- They’re dry when you receive them, so you can store them for long periods and pull them out if you run into any issues finding bugs.
Cons:
- If you soak them for longer than the recommended two seconds, they turn to mush. Most frogs won’t eat it at that point.
Amzey Appetizing Fresh Mealworms
Appetizing choice
Amzey Appetizing Fresh Mealworms provide the moisture, texture, and scent of live mealworms without the poop, care, or mess. You can move them a little with tongs, toss a couple in water, or add them to a food dish. In fact, most frogs will think they’re still alive. We also appreciate that they’re packaged in smaller serving-sized bags, keeping them as fresh as possible.
Pros:
- You can feed these to any frog species as a treat or staple food.
- These mealworms are a fabulous way to help you transition your frogs from live food to shelf-stable or vice versa.
Cons:
- Like any fresh foods, these expire faster than dried bugs or pellets. However, you can freeze the large bag and defrost the small packages one at a time to make them last longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between aquatic, arboreal, and terrestrial frogs?
Aquatic frogs live exclusively in water, arboreal frogs live in trees and prefer to climb and hide in high spaces, and terrestrial frogs live on land. They often have similar dietary needs, but there are slight differences in how much and how frequently you should feed them.
Can I feed my frogs shelf-stable foods exclusively?
While shelf-stable foods can technically provide all the protein and nutrients your frogs need, they don’t meet their enrichment needs. Frogs love chasing and eating live bugs, and hunting helps them get exercise and mental stimulation. We recommend feeding both frequently to minimize any risk that your frog will refuse one or the other. That way, if you can’t find bugs, you can feed shelf-stable foods.
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