Most amphibians need live food. Adults of both land and aquatic species usually eat invertebrates (animals without backbones) such as earthworms, bloodworms, black worms (typically fed to aquatic amphibians), white worms (for both aquatic and semiaquatic amphibians), tubifex worms, springtails, fruit flies, fly larvae, mealworms, and crickets. Some species eat vertebrates (animals with backbones) and may need live minnows, guppies, goldfish, or newborn mice or rats.
Most invertebrates do not have the right calcium-to-phosphorus ratio to support healthy bone growth in amphibians (earthworms are an exception), and they often lack key vitamins. To prevent nutritional disease in amphibians, supplements should be added to the diet. This is generally done by one of the following methods:
gut-loading, which involves feeding prey items a calcium-rich commercial diet 48 hours before feeding them to amphibians
dusting, which involves coating insects or prey items with either powdered calcium or a powdered multivitamin containing vitamin D3 and calcium
Pet owners should consult a vet for appropriate supplementation guidelines for their pet.
