Boreal Toad Diet

Boreal toads (Bufo boreas boreas) live in the Western U.S. but have undergone dramatic population declines and local extinctions in many areas since the mid- to late-1970s. The declines are linked to two main factors: habitat loss and spread of the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), a fungus that is devastating amphibian populations around the world. Boreal toads are considered Endangered Species in Colorado and New Mexico, and are listed as Protected Species in Wyoming and as Sensitive Species in Utah. Efforts are underway to repatriate Boreal toad populations, which has generated considerable knowledge about the life history and diet of wild and captive Boreal toads.

  1. Tadpole Diet

    • In the wild, Boreal toad larvae (tadpoles) eat a variety of foods. Tadpoles will filter suspended organic material, eat bottom detritus (particulate organic material) and feed on filamentous algae. Tadpoles sometimes also scavenge carrion, such as dead fish, tadpoles and adult amphibians (even their own species).

    Adult Diet

    • As adults, Boreal toads are not picky eaters--they will eat just about any animal that is smaller than they are, as long as it is moving. Boreal toad diets consists chiefly of invertebrates, including ants, spiders, beetles, worms, moths, weevils, grasshoppers, mosquitoes, wasps, bees, stink bugs, damsel bugs, crane flies, deer flies, alder flies, muscid flies, mites, water striders, backswimmers and snails. Boreal toads will also eat other vertebrates if they will fit in their mouths, though, including juveniles and adults of their own species.

    Feeding Behavior

    • Boreal toads feed both day and night, but some researchers have suggested they are more successful at capturing prey during the day. Adults locate their prey primarily by sight, but may also use olfactory (scent) cues, and usually wait for prey to come within about 2 inches of their mouth before lunging and striking prey with their sticky tongues.

    Tadpole Diet in Captivity

    • The Native Aquatic Species Restoration Facility feeds captive tadpoles each of the following foods daily: a single 3-inch pieces of frozen romaine lettuce, Spirulina Aquarium flake food and shrimp flakes, and their own special recipe of "prepared tadpole gel strips" with "tadpole feed coating." The tadpole gel stips are made using mixing a 50:50 ratio (by weight) of Mazuri dry gel and hot water, which is turned into a gel strips by pouring it into a 1-inch-deep pan and cooling it in the refrigerator. The tadpole feed coating is created by mixing equal amounts (by volume) of ground Hikari algae wafers, mashed Spirulina aquarium flake food and shrimp flakes.

    Toad Diet in Captivity

    • According to The Native Aquatic Species Restoration Facility, newly metamorphosed toads (toadlets) should be fed wingless fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) that are cooled (to slow them down) and dusted with a mixture of Repta-vitamin and Repta-calcium supplement. Subsequently, as toadlets grow they can be fed pin-head crickets, then 1-week-old crickets, then 2-week-old crickets and finally3-week-old crickets. Adults can be maintained on a diet of 3-week-old crickets, so long as the crickets are dusted with Repta-calcium and Repta-vitamin mix.