How to Feed Fire-Belly Toads Mealworms

The Bombina frog, also called a fire-belly toad, is an opportunistic carnivore in the wild, feeding on a variety of invertebrates, mollusks, and small fish on land and in water. When the toad is in captivity, live crickets should make up the majority of its diet, but mealworms are a great supplement to the fire-belly's diet. You can offer your frog a couple of mealworms one or two times a week.

Things You'll Need

  • Mealworms
  • Plastic container
  • Carrots, sweet potato and apple
  • Oats
  • Powdered vitamins
  • Plastic baggie
  • Shallow bowl
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Instructions

    • 1

      "Gutload" your mealworms. Place live mealworms in plastic container with several slices of carrot and/or sweet potato.This will insure that your mealworms are loaded with beta carotene, which helps keep the toad's colors bright. Apples are also good for coloring, as they contain canthaxanthin. High-calcium food, such as kale, may be beneficial as well, especially if you choose not to add a vitamin supplement. Allow the mealworms to feed for several hours before feeding them to your Bombina.

    • 2

      Unused mealworms can be put into the refrigerator to "hibernate." Fill the container with oats or bran and a slice or two of sweet potato or apple for moisture. Food that is spoiled or molded should be removed from the mealworm containers.

    • 3

      Place the mealworms in a plastic baggie with a powdered, high-calcium reptile vitamin. Shake until the mealworms are coated.

    • 4

      Place mealworms in a shallow dish in the toad's enclosure. They may bury themselves if put on the substrate.