Mealworms vs Crickets vs any other bug!

[LazyEyedFroggie]

What's the best food for medium sized toads/frogs? (about 2 inches)

[frogluver]

For pet amphibians (amphibians bought at the pet store), I would say crickets are the best choice. Mealworms are ok, but too much of this insect can cause problems. I don’t like wax worms or earthworms because they always give my frogs diaherria when I feed them these, including my Whites tree frog. For wild (captive) amphibians, I would say spiders, moths, daddy long-legs, grasshoppers, beetles, and lace wings are excellent in addition to crickets. However, if you do harvest insects—as I do in the summer for my Wood frogs— make sure that no pesticides or other harmful substances are sprayed in your area.

[LazyEyedFroggie]

Thank-you! Great advice, especially with the separate diet of captive bred vs wild

[frogluver]

Your welcome !
How are your Wood frog froglets doing and the female frog you recuperated, how is she?

[Sublime]

Dubia roaches are the best, hands down. Small-medium nymphs would be appropriately sized. Dubbed the best feeder insect in the world, research them and you'll see why. The effort of starting a colony and paying the price might turn you off, but the reward is endless. Crickets are more commonly available, the price you can't beat and availability. Not a lot of nutritional value though unfortunately, but with occasional supplemented dustings and prior gut loading should give your toad/frog proper nutrition. Mealworms are the larvae of a beetle (Hence containing chitin), once they pupate they are very high in chitin making up their hard outer exoskeleton. Not a great protein-fat ratio either. I would try red wigglers or night crawlers, although maybe not since frogluver said they give her frog diarrhea. I would still try them out though. All frogs can handle some parasite loads, it's when they're stressed commonly in captivity is when it is deadly. Weakened immune system leads to illness, pre-mature death.

[Kreamcheese]

Dubia roaches are the best, hands down. Small-medium nymphs would be appropriately sized. Dubbed the best feeder insect in the world, research them and you'll see why. The effort of starting a colony and paying the price might turn you off, but the reward is endless. Crickets are more commonly available, the price you can't beat and availability. Not a lot of nutritional value though unfortunately, but with occasional supplemented dustings and prior gut loading should give your toad/frog proper nutrition. Mealworms are the larvae of a beetle (Hence containing chitin), once they pupate they are very high in chitin making up their hard outer exoskeleton. Not a great protein-fat ratio either. I would try red wigglers or night crawlers, although maybe not since frogluver said they give her frog diarrhea. I would still try them out though. All frogs can handle some parasite loads, it's when they're stressed commonly in captivity is when it is deadly. Weakened immune system leads to illness, pre-mature death.

I was hoping somebody would say dubias. I just ordered mine and hope to start my colony soon. Ordered 15 females/6 males and 50 large nymphs. Is that good for a start? I plan to use crickets still for the next few months before digging into my roaches.