What Do Green Tree Frogs Eat?

Green tree frogs are some of the most commonly seen tree frogs in the world. There are two primary species that share the specific name “green tree frog”, the American species and the Australian species. Australian tree frogs were introduced to Florida after people started keeping them as pets, making them even harder to differentiate since they both now share the same geography. Both are kept as pets, and both are wonderfully cute. Let’s learn about these frogs and learn: what do green tree frogs eat?

What do green tree frogs eat?

Green tree frogs eat flies, mosquitoes, crickets, locusts, moths, and more.

As insectivorous animals, green tree frogs only eat insects. Both species have a similar diet and are generally similar as a species. Frogs play an important part in any ecosystem by keeping insect populations down.

American species

American green tree frogs are known to eat flies, mosquitoes, crickets, and really anything they can easily eat. Frogs aren’t picky eaters when it comes to their bugs, and the American tree frog isn’t any different. While they may eat any insect, they do seem to have a preference. One study revealed that American green tree frogs prefer more active prey, even more so than larger prey. The study followed the dietary habits of the frogs, and 90% of their diet came from insects that needed to be actively pursued. The other 10% were just happenstance catches where the bug was convenient.

Austrialian species

Australian green tree frogs are about twice the size of their American counterpart, resulting in a diet that includes larger prey. Tree frogs are able to eat spiders, crickets, and mosquitoes, but the larger members can even eat things like lizards, cockroaches, and other frogs. There have even been instances in captivity where frogs being used for research have eaten small mice. Funny enough, Australian green tree frogs are prone to overeating and can become comically obese. This behavior has earned them the nickname “the dumpy tree frog” in some places.

A complete list of foods green tree frogs eat

Here is a complete list of foods that American and Australian green tree frogs eat:

• ants
• mosquitoes
• crickets
• cockroaches
• moths
• flies
• spiders
• grasshoppers
• worms
• slugs
• lizards (Australian only)
• other frogs (Australian only)
• small lab mice (Australian only)

Green tree frogs usually eat during the day in the wild but in captivity eat 3-4 insects every other day.

How do green tree frogs hunt?

Green tree frogs (both species) use similar methods to hunt their prey.

Frogs only have an upper layer of teeth. Generally, two layers of teeth are used for chewing, but frogs have a different approach. Their single layer of upper teeth is designed to hold insects in place as they much it with their jaws. It’s less for chewing and more acts as a way to hold onto squirming bugs.

Frogs, in general, are famous for their use of sticky tongues to snatch up their prey. While they may not be feet long as depicted on television, they are proportionally long to a frog’s body. Generally, their tongues are a third the length of their bodies. For humans, that would look like having a tongue that stretches all the way to our chest!

When a frog notices a bug, it launches out its tongue and whips it back in .07 seconds, or five times faster than a blink. Bugs don’t really have time to react, and when they get hit, it often knocks them off their feet. Additionally, frog mucous becomes sticky right before they shoot out their tongue (up to five times as sticky as honey). Once it’s back in their mouths, they chew the bug by squishing it down and swallowing it nearly whole.

Where do green tree frogs live?

American green tree frogs are found near lakes, marshes, streams, and water runoffs. They can occasionally be seen perched on windows, using their sticky feet to sit and wait for bugs going near lights. Their habitat spreads from Delaware all the way south to Florida and as far west as Texas. They are abundant in North Carolina, especially in the piedmont and coastal plains near the swamps.

Australian tree frogs are found in eucalyptus stands and tropical forests in the northwestern areas of Australia and the jungles of New Guinea. Australian frogs can better regulate their skin’s moisture and survive through wet and dry cycles better than their American counterparts.

What things eat green tree frogs?

Tree frogs aren’t a keystone species (species that an ecosystem depends on), but they are still one of the most important elements of the ecosystems they are native to. Reducing mosquito populations is important (especially for humans), but the food chain works both ways.

Their predators include birds, fish, frogs, snakes, and cats. While large raptors don’t typically eat frogs, aquatic ones do. Storks, egrets, herons, kingfishers, swans, ducks, and even crows will all eat frogs. American tree frogs often tuck in their legs and arms on green grasses and become nearly invisible.

Small fish and predatory fish eat frogs and their tadpoles as a primary source of prey. Sunfish, bluegill, and perch will eat small frogs and their eggs. Large fish like bass, pike, muskie, and trout will eat frogs and are often used as bait in sport fishing.

What do you feed pet green tree frogs?

Both species of green tree frogs are kept domestically as pets. However, American frogs need gentler care and don’t prefer to be handled, while their Australian cousins are a bit more hardy.

Generally, gut-loaded crickets are what owners feed their frogs. “Gut-loaded” simply means the crickets were fed vitamins before being released, allowing the frog to ingest those vitamins through the crickets. Larger frogs are usually fed every other day and can get 3-5 insects per feeding, provided they are eating all of their food. Smaller frogs can be fed daily. Most pet stores carry crickets, mealworms, and waxworms in their feed section.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © DSlight_photography/Shutterstock.com