Are Frogs Carnivores, Herbivores, or Omnivores?

Adult frogs are almost exclusively carnivores. They eat insects, small vertebrates, and other smaller animals they can find in their habitat. However, there are still some herbivorous frog species out there.

Tadpoles are strictly herbivores as they are growing up. They will feed on algae and other decaying matter in the wild and water. But as they grow up, they start to develop teeth and they will become carnivorous.

By the time they are adults, they’re almost all carnivores, with the exception of a few frog species.

Are Frogs Carnivores?

Most frog species are carnivorous, but there are a few frog species that are omnivorous, such as the Brazillian Tree Frog which eats fruits and seeds as well as arthropods and insects.

They are some of the most proficient hunters in their habitat. They have a good knack for hiding in the water and hunting with their long tongues.

They try to go after flying insects in their habitats, such as flies and mosquitoes, but they won’t say no to other types of food they can find.

Frogs also eat animals like moths, dragonflies, and in some cases even smaller snakes, baby mice, small turtles, and even smaller frogs.

They are not picky eaters by any means and are prepared to eat almost any type of food that comes their way.

Cross-species predation among frogs is also not that unfrequent. Larger frogs might feed on smaller frog species, especially if they can’t find other foods around.

And in some cases, this cannibalism even extends to the same frog species, resulting in cannibalism among frog species.

Not all frog species are strictly carnivorous, though. One interesting example is Izecksohn’s Brazilian treefrog, which is a frugivore.

This means that this frog species will also feed on fruits and fruit seeds, as well as flowers and other plant matter. They will also feed on arthropods, so their diet is more omnivorous than purely herbivorous.

Related Article: Do Frogs Bite?

Are Tadpoles Carnivores?

No, tadpoles are almost strictly herbivores, and some are omnivores. They don’t have teeth and can’t catch their prey yet, so they will rely on herbivorous foods around them.

Tadpoles feed on plant matter and algae in the water, which is ample and easily obtainable. They don’t need to hunt for their food and they don’t rely on their elders to provide for them, either.

Tadpoles still don’t have their teeth developed, which is the main reason why they are herbivorous early on. They’ll eat smaller bits and pieces of plants in their habitat.

Most commonly, they’ll feed on algae, which is the preferred type of food for tadpoles. If you have tadpoles at home, look to providing them with algae or other similar types of foods.

But as tadpoles grow and they start to develop teeth and larger heads, they will start to hunt smaller animals, too.

They’ll begin feeding on baby shrimp or other smaller animals they can find, which allows them to grow faster. These types of food have more protein so tadpoles start to prefer them to other foods.

So it’s fair to say that while not all tadpoles are herbivores, they’re also not carnivores. Most tadpoles prefer to eat herbivorous foods because they still don’t have teeth.

But only a few days or weeks into their development, they will turn towards more carnivorous foods as they start to grow.

Related Article: Do Frogs Have Ears?

Why Are Frogs Considered Carnivores?

Frogs are considered to be carnivores because they need meat-based foods for survival. Without meat, they wouldn’t be able to grow and thrive in their environment.

Despite their smaller stature, frogs are quite good hunters. They hunt by sticking their tongues out while using their powerful senses. They’re good at detecting vibrations and using them to communicate.

They also have decent eyesight and hearing, allowing them to detect potential targets of prey easily.

Frogs prefer to hunt flying insects, as they are more easily obtainable and abundant.

Flies and mosquitoes are most popular, but frogs also go after dragonflies and smaller insects, too. Some frogs might even go after smaller frogs or other frogs of the same species.

Another reason why frogs prefer meat-based foods is that these foods bring them more protein when compared to other types of foods.

This is particularly crucial as frogs are still growing up in the early years of their lives. They’ll hunt smaller insects that bring enough protein to keep them growing.

But despite their hunter status, frogs often end up being hunted themselves. They’re vulnerable to attacks from larger predators in their habitat.

Some frogs have some good defensive mechanisms such as hiding in water or climbing trees, while others also carry poison to protect themselves.

Do Frogs Eat Vegetables?

Most frog species are carnivores, so they don’t like to eat plants, vegetables, or fruits. But there are some frog species that will also eat those types of food.

This question might be relevant to you if you happen to own a frog at home and you’re wondering if your frog might be interested in vegetables. The answer is no, most frogs won’t like to eat plants because they are carnivores. 

The biggest reason why you should avoid feeding your frog vegetables is that some veggies might be covered in pesticides, especially the ones that you buy in grocery stores.

And these pesticides can severely harm your frog and might potentially even kill it if your frog eats enough of these vegetables.

Conversely, some frogs might not even like to eat vegetables in the first place. Some prefer an exclusively carnivorous diet, although some species also eat fruits and vegetables.

The most notable example is Izecksohn’s Brazilian tree frog (Xenohyla truncata).

Conclusion

The majority of frog species are carnivores, and you should adjust your frog’s diet based on this fact. They prefer to eat smaller insects they can catch in their habitats, such as mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, shrimp, or crickets.

Rarely, frogs might also eat vegetables, although you should refrain from feeding your pet frog veggies because of harmful pesticides. Overall, you’ll want to focus primarily on a carnivorous diet with plenty of protein, which would allow your lovely frog to grow up into a healthy individual.