Foods for California Toads

California toads, like other species of toads, have varied diets that can include nearly any type of invertebrate they can fit into their mouth. Their diet can mimic what they would naturally eat in the wild, as well as any insects you catch that are free from pesticides. Nutritional supplements can also support the health of the toad.

  1. Water

    • California toads should have access to water all day, provided in a shallow dish. Deep dishes foster the possibility of drowning. The skin of a toad is very sensitive, so you should only give it water that does not contain chlorine or heavy metals. You can filter or condition treated tap water or give bottled spring water to the toad. The water will also help keep its skin moist.

    Feeding Your Toad

    • California toads, like all toads, will eat any sort of insect and other invertebrate that they can capture. Crickets are common food for toads because they are easy to find at pet shops, but you can also give your California toad various types of worms, such as mealworms, waxworms and earthworms. You can give the toad critters caught in the wild, such as grubs, slugs, snails and spiders. The food should be room temperature to be palatable for the toad.

    Supplements

    • Give supplements to the California toad to keep it healthy. The most common way to bolster its diet is to feed it gut-loaded crickets. Gut-loaded crickets are allowed to eat vegetables and nutrient supplements themselves a day before becoming food for the toad. The vitamins and minerals in the crickets passes onto the toad. You can also sprinkle supplements directly onto the toad's food.

    Feeding Routine

    • Don't worry if your toad does not appear active or eat during the day, since the California toad is nocturnal and prefers eating around dusk. Give California toads three to six food items a day. Feed juvenile toads small insects, such as fruit flies or pinhead crickets. Juvenile toads, in particular, require daily nutritional supplements.