Toads primarily eat live prey, mostly insects and other arthropods. Their diet commonly includes insects like crickets, grasshoppers, flies, beetles, and insect larvae, as well as spiders, slugs, snails, worms, and ants
. Larger toads can also consume small mammals such as mice, reptiles like small snakes and lizards, and even other amphibians including younger toads
. Toads hunt mostly at night, using their keen eyesight to detect moving prey and their sticky tongues to catch it, though some species may pounce directly on prey
. Tadpoles (baby toads) have a different diet, feeding on algae, plant matter, insect larvae, and small aquatic animals until they mature into carnivorous adults
. In summary, toads eat:
- Insects and insect larvae (crickets, flies, beetles, grasshoppers)
- Spiders
- Slugs and snails
- Worms and ants
- Small mammals (mice)
- Small reptiles (snakes, lizards)
- Other amphibians (including younger toads)
- Tadpoles eat algae and plant matter in addition to small aquatic animals
This varied diet helps toads thrive in diverse environments
