What do horned frogs eat? Introduction to common food types

Horned frogs are amphibians. The tadpoles live in water, while adults are mainly terrestrial but can also enter water. They can be considered the most common pet frogs in the world, found in almost every aquarium shop. In recent years, sellers have renamed them "fortune frogs," probably to imitate Japan's lucky cat. Before keeping one, we first need to understand what horned frogs eat. Let's take a look together below!

What do horned frog tadpoles eat

Horned frog tadpoles are carnivorous and can be fed bloodworms or other frog tadpoles. Their feeding method is similar to that of fish: they suck powdered food and water into their mouths at the same time, then expel the water through the gill slits while the food is swallowed. In addition, the keratinous teeth on the mouth margins of horned frog tadpoles can gnaw off tiny food particles and swallow them together with water. Artificial rearing has shown that horned frog tadpoles also eat soybean cake, wheat bran, earthworm powder, fish meat, animal offal, and so on.

What do adult horned frogs eat

Adult horned frogs are predatory animals that usually only catch live animals. They either actively seek prey or passively wait until prey comes within a certain distance and then suddenly capture them. They rely mainly on vision. On land they use their tongues to catch prey, while in water they use their lower jaws to catch prey directly. Under artificial rearing, the main foods include small fish, small shrimp, Dubia roaches, grasshoppers, crickets, mealworms, other frogs (rice field frogs, pond frogs), pinky mice, and so on.

Feeding methods for horned frogs

1. Feeding amount: Horned frogs eat almost anything that moves in front of them, including small mice, goldfish, and earthworms. The weekly food intake of an adult horned frog should not exceed one medium-sized mouse or two larger feeder goldfish. Overfeeding can cause the frog to become extremely overweight, which may prevent it from staying healthy in the long term.

2. Feeding live prey: Horned frogs should be fed live prey. If the prey is dead, use tweezers to hold it and wiggle it in front of the frog. If feeding mice, it is best to feed freshly killed or thawed mice, because this is safer for the frog and also somewhat kinder to the mouse.

3. Avoid touching: During the keeping process, it is best to avoid touching horned frogs directly with your hands. When changing the substrate, use a net or shovel to scoop the frog up from behind and move it to a water dish for cleaning. After contact with horned frogs and other amphibians, you must thoroughly wash your hands.

4. Daily management: The water in the horned frog's enclosure should preferably be changed every day, and if there is waste, it should be cleaned up as soon as possible, because the chemical components in the waste can harm the horned frog's health. After eating its fill, the horned frog will hide its body in the substrate with only its head exposed. Spray clean water into the enclosure every day to maintain humidity inside and prevent the horned frog's skin from drying out.