What do Toads Eat? This is one of the first questions you will ask yourself when you are considering buying one of these amazing animals.
While this seems like a very simple question, it is actually more complex than you would think as there are a huge variety of toads out there.
What makes this question even more difficult to answer is that there isn’t technically a scientific group of animals that are classified as toads.
However, the species that fall under the Bufonidae family are widely considered to be ‘true toads’. It is these animals that have the characteristic dry, leathery, warty skin.
As the question we are trying to answer ‘What do Toads Eat’ is very generic, we will look at it in respect to some of the animals in this Bufonidae family.
We will first take a brief look at the taxonomy behind the Bufonidae family to learn what kind of animals we are dealing with.
Taxonomy
Both frogs and toads belong to a class of animals called Amphibia or Amphibians. These animals are ectothermic, tetrapod vertebrates.
The order that the Toad belongs to is called Anura. This is essentially an order of all the different types of frogs. This means that all species of toads are a type of frog.
These frogs can be broken down into many different families but the two primary families are Ranidae, which are known as ‘true frogs’, and Bufonidae, which are known as ‘true toads’.
There are also other families of frogs and toads out there such as the family of tree frogs which are called Hylidae.
As mentioned earlier, there is no actual scientific classification that distinguishes toads from other species of frogs.
However, the species of toads in the Bufonidae family are considered to be the ‘true toads’ so it is these frogs that we will focus on in this article but it is important to keep in mind that there are other families of frogs out there that can also be considered toads.
The Bufonidae family is a large family of toads that has 35 different genera associated with it.
There are hundreds of different species of toads that are classified under these 35 different genera with many of the most popular species contained in the Bufo genus.
Other common genera of Toads include the Stream Toads, Stubfoot Toads, Central American Toads and African Live Bearing Toads.
The Bufo genus was used for years almost as the ‘default genus’ to throw any newly discovered species of toads into.
As a result, a huge number of species were initially placed in this genus before being reclassified, including most of the North American species.
After reclassification, only 17 species remained in the genus. The most popular species, the European Toad or Common Toad still remains in this genus.
In fact, this is the nominate species in the genus with the scientific name Bufo bufo, making it almost the ultimate species of ‘True Toad’.
What do Toads Eat – So Many Species
As you can see from the taxonomic breakdown of toads, there are hundreds of different species to choose from and that is only considering ‘True Toad’ species.
As a result, it is impossible to describe what toads eat as a general question as there are so many variables. Instead, we will focus on the Common Toad.
We will also take a brief look at some other popular species to see what those toads eat. We will look at species such as the American Toad and the Cane Toad.
So, What do Toads Eat
Before we look at the diet of a few specific species of toads, we will briefly discuss what toads eat in general.
As this is a generalised look at what these toads eat, not all species will eat all of the items discussed below.
Toads are carnivores and will eat a large variety of live prey. Many species of toad will eat almost anything it can overpower and fit in its mouth.
Some commonly consumed prey for these amazing frogs includes crickets, flies, spiders and other types of ‘creepy crawlies’.
They will also eat a variety of different worms what they encounter including earthworms, mealworms, wax worms and super worms.
If you have a pet toad, they may also eat other commercially available insects such as locusts and roaches, depending on the species.
Some larger species of toads are even known to eat larger prey such as small mice, baby rats and other types of small rodents.
What to Toads Eat in the Tadpole Stage
Like with other types of frogs, the tadpole stage of a toad’s lifespan is unique given that at this stage, the toads are completely aquatic.
This is also the only stage where they are not carnivores. So, what do Toads eat in the tadpole stage if they are not carnivores?
The first meal a tadpole will consume after it hatches is the egg yolk that it was born in. Many animals consume the remains of their yolk as there is a huge amount of nutrients in it.
For the rest of its tadpole life, these toads will eat aquatic vegetation such as algae.
While not carnivores, in the tadpole stage, some species are known to eat other tadpoles, even of the same species.
This cannibalistic behaviour only occurs when there isn’t enough aquatic vegetation for the tadpoles to feed on.
What do Toads Wat When They Emerge from the Water
When a toad emerges from the water it will have grown its legs and will start to lose its tail. At this point, it is a juvenile toad and no longer an aquatic tadpole.
These juvenile toads will start to consume a variety of different insects. Their diet will be similar to an adult toad but they will be too small to consume very large prey.
At this stage, their diet will consist of small insects such as flies, spiders and other small insects.
What do Toads Eat when they are fully grown
As mentioned earlier, an adult toad will eat a variety of different prey when they are fully grown. The exact makeup of their diet will vary from species to species though.
However, in general, an adult toad will eat a variety of different insects such as spiders, flies, crickets and other types of ‘creepy crawlies’.
They will also eat a variety of different worms what they encounter such as earthworms, mealworms, wax worms and super worms.
Some larger species of toads are even known to eat larger prey such as small mice, baby rats and other types of small rodents.
When do Toads Eat
Most common species of toads tend to eat in the evening or at night. This is when many of the insects they consume are most active.
However, these animals are opportunistic feeders and will consume a meal whenever one presents itself.
Toads also have very little control over when it is time to stop eating and will continue to eat until there is nothing left.
While this can easily lead to overfeeding in captivity, it usually isn’t an issue in the wild as there is no guarantee when the toad will get its next meal.
Do Toads drink water
It is very important that toads have access to a fresh source of water. Being an amphibian, they will quickly dehydrate if they don’t have access to water.
Interestingly though, toads won’t actually drink the water. They stay hydrated by absorbing water through their skin.
This, combined with the moisture in their food is enough to keep them fully hydrated.
If you have a pet toad, it is very important to change their water bowl regularly to prevent bacteria from building up. Dirty water can quickly lead to health issues with your amphibian.
You will also need to dechlorinate any water that you put in their enclosure to ensure that the toad doesn’t absorb any bad chemicals.
What do Toads Eat – The Common Toad
The Common toad or European Toad is a species of toad that is found throughout much of Europe. It is the nominate species in the ‘true toad’ genus.
These toads have a ferocious appetite and are often referred to as the gardener’s best friend as they will help keep garden pests under control.
These toads will eat a variety of different insects and pests including things like flies, spiders, slugs, worms and ants.
What does the American Toad eat
The American Toad belongs to a different genus of toads than the Common Toad. It has the scientific name Anaxyrus americanus.
However, their diet is very similar to the European Toad. As tadpoles, they are herbivores and will graze on a variety of different types of aquatic vegetation.
Once they emerge as frogs, they shift to a carnivore-based diet. This will consist of a variety of different insects and grubs such as flies, spiders, snails, slugs, worms and beetles.
What does the Cane Toad Eat
The Cane Toad is a species of Toad that is native to parts of South and Central America. However, they are also common in Australia after been introduced there in the 1930’s.
Just over 100 specimens were introduced to try and control Cane beetle populations in Queensland. It was a huge disaster as they are now an extremely invasive species with an estimated population of around 200 million specimens.
These frogs will eat a variety of different insects while larger specimens can even eat rodents and small mammals. These ferocious frogs will eat almost anything they can swallow whole.