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The nutritional requirements of your froggy friend
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by Niamh Ca ssidy ,
or those interested in keeping exotic pets, frogs are ideal. They can live happily in a relatively small space and do not require too much attention; however, they are a long-term commitment and it is still important to know your stuff when it comes to specific nutrition and care. Wild frogs are facing a population decline and distinction as a result of human activities, therefore you should only buy frogs from places you are sure are locally captive-bred and tested to be free of disease when possible, so avoid catching wild frogs to keep as pets!
Different croaks for different folks
the right research for the type of amphibian you acquire is essential, to gain a better understanding of their specific nutritional guidelines and requirements. frog varieties range from semi-aquatic and aquatic, to terrestrial and tree frogs. he most popular species of frog to keep as a pet is the african bullfrog. other popular species include the white lipped frog, the burmese chubby frog, the white tree frog, the bumblebee dart frog, the waxy monkey frog, the african dwarf frog, the tomato frog, the green and black dart frog, the red-eyed tree frog, the american green tree frog, the gray tree frog, the amazon milk frog, the oriental fire bellied frog, and the pacman frog/horned frogs.
Wild frog’s vs pet frog’s
Domesticating any wild animal, it is imperative to know and understand their natural habits, especially when it comes to eating preferences and hunting behaviour. In the wild, frogs are carnivorous and eat a variety of insects. They are not scavengers, but predators and opportunistic hunters that will generally only eat something that is moving such as live
Inte rna tion al Pe tfo od ,U K
insects. Feeding them dead bugs will not work! Wild frogs tend to eat whenever possible, so their habits range from eating several small preys in a day, to eating bigger prey such as grasshoppers or small rodents over several days. Their eating habits must accommodate a good balance between conserving energy and using energy to hunt. Their hunting behaviours are nocturnal, wild frogs rely on the cover of darkness to keep them hidden from potential predators. Pet frogs have owners to decide for them what they eat, which means there is room to be more selective in diet to make healthier choices, however it should still reflect the variety of a wild frog. A key difference with keeping frogs as pets is the water consumption. Amphibians are very sensitive to the chemicals in our tap water, so would require all water to be dechlorinated (dechlorinators can be purchased at most aquarium stores). Frogs do not drink through their mouths, rather they absorb water through their skin! This means you’ll need to provide either a pool of water in the tank or mist the tank regularly, but it’s best if you do both.
What’s on the menu
Generally, a pet frog’s diet should include a variety of insects and small bugs. This includes crickets, mealworms, and waxworms (all easier to purchase at pet stores), as well as locusts, grasshoppers (both trickier to find but more nutritionally beneficial), caterpillars, worms (ensure the size is suitable), spiders, and butterflies. Aquatic frogs eat a variety of aquatic invertebrates, from bloodworms, redworms and blackworms, to tadpoles, mosquito larvae, and brine shrimp. For smaller frogs, appropriate foods include ants, aphids, springtails, mosquito larvae and fruit flies. Larger species will be able to eat small mice, bear in mind the live ones are more likely
22 | January 2023 - International Petfood