What Do Frogs Eat in Water?

Only some frogs feed in water. Fully aquatic frogs such as the African clawed frog scavenge insects, worms and crustaceans, living or dead. Bullfrogs wait at the water’s edge and grab almost anything that fits in their mouth, including fish, crayfish and other frogs. Tadpoles mostly graze on algae and plants. Most other adult frogs catch their food on land.

Most frogs hunt on land or at the water’s edge, then jump into the pond to escape. Only a few species truly eat underwater. Tadpoles are the other big group that feeds in water all day long.

This guide separates those groups so you can see who eats what, and how. It also covers what to offer a pet water frog.

How this was made: prepared with AI assistance and checked against the sources listed at the end. Images are AI-generated illustrations, not photographs of real animals or products.

Key Takeaways

• Fully aquatic frogs eat underwater; most adult frogs catch prey on land or at the water’s edge.
• African clawed frogs scavenge insects, worms and crustaceans, alive or dead.
• Adult bullfrogs are sit-and-wait predators with a very wide menu.
• Tadpoles mostly graze on algae and plants; clawed frog tadpoles filter feed.
• Pet water frogs need pellets and worms made for them, not human food.

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Which frogs feed in water?

Frogs fall into three feeding groups. Fully aquatic frogs live in the water and eat there. Semi-aquatic frogs sit at the shoreline and strike at anything that comes close. Terrestrial frogs hunt on land and only visit water to breed or cool off.

Tadpoles belong to a fourth group. They live in water and eat very differently from the adults they become.

What aquatic adult frogs eat

The African clawed frog is the textbook water-feeder. Animal Diversity Web describes adults as scavengers that eat living, dead or dying arthropods and other organic waste. Listed prey includes insects, aquatic worms and small crustaceans.

These frogs are almost entirely aquatic and rarely leave the water. They find food with very sensitive fingers, a keen sense of smell and a lateral line that detects vibrations in the water.

• Insects that fall onto the surface
• Aquatic and marine worms
• Small crustaceans
• Dead or dying animal matter

How frogs swallow food underwater

Water frogs cannot flick a tongue at a target the way a land frog does. Clawed frogs belong to the Pipidae, the family known as the tongueless frogs. They use a hyobranchial pump, which means they expand the throat to suck the food in.

Their hind-foot claws then tear larger pieces apart. This is why they can swallow bits of worm or insect without a tongue.

Bullfrogs and other shoreline hunters

Adult American bullfrogs use a sit-and-wait strategy. They stay still for long periods until prey comes near, then grab it with a flash of the tongue and pull it back into the mouth.

Animal Diversity Web lists snakes, worms, insects, crustaceans, other frogs, tadpoles and the eggs of fish, frogs and salamanders in the bullfrog diet. Birds, mammals and fish also appear on the list. Bullfrogs are cannibalistic, so large ones will eat smaller bullfrogs.

This is the source of the claim that frogs eat birds. It applies to the biggest species and is rare. A typical frog eats insects and other small invertebrates.

What tadpoles eat in water

Bullfrog tadpoles mostly graze on aquatic plants and algae. African clawed frog tadpoles are filter feeders that strain tiny particles from the water.

Quick comparison

This table sums up where each group feeds and what it eats, based on the Animal Diversity Web accounts cited below.

What to feed a pet water frog

Pet aquatic frogs eat prepared foods plus worms. VCA Animal Hospitals lists frog or tadpole pellets, fish food and worms for the African dwarf frog. PetMD notes that pelleted foods are mainly made for aquatic species.

PetMD also says frogs should not eat human food, because it can lead to nutritional disease. Feed the amount your frog finishes quickly and remove leftovers, since uneaten food fouls the water.

For a full list of options, see our guide to the best food for African dwarf frogs. If you are unsure whether a water frog suits you, read about pet frogs that live in water.

Common myths

Myth: frogs eat only flies. Insects are the staple, but larger species take fish, crustaceans and other frogs.

Myth: every frog eats underwater. Only fully aquatic species and tadpoles feed there. Check the species before you plan a tank around it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do frogs eat in the water?

Some do. Fully aquatic frogs and tadpoles eat in water. Most adult frogs hunt on land or at the water’s edge.

What do frogs in a pond eat?

Pond frogs such as bullfrogs eat insects, crustaceans, fish, other frogs and tadpoles. Their tadpoles eat algae and plants.

Can a frog eat underwater?

Fully aquatic species can. Clawed frogs suck food into the mouth with a throat pump and tear larger pieces with their hind claws.

What do pet water frogs eat?

Frog or tadpole pellets, fish food and worms are listed by VCA Animal Hospitals for African dwarf frogs.

Do frogs eat fish?

Large frogs such as bullfrogs do. Animal Diversity Web lists fish among their prey.

Do tadpoles eat plants?

Bullfrog tadpoles mostly graze on algae and aquatic plants. Other species vary.

Bottom Line

Where a frog eats depends on its body and its habitat. Water frogs scavenge underwater, shoreline frogs ambush, and tadpoles graze.

Next, read how frogs swallow food and what the frog food chain looks like.

Sources

• Animal Diversity Web: Xenopus laevis (African clawed frog), accessed 31 October 2026
• Animal Diversity Web: Lithobates catesbeianus (American bullfrog), accessed 31 October 2026
• Animal Diversity Web: Hymenochirus boettgeri classification (Pipidae, tongueless frogs), accessed 31 October 2026
• PetMD: What Do Frogs Eat?, accessed 31 October 2026
• VCA Animal Hospitals: Frogs as Pets, accessed 31 October 2026
• CDC: Reptiles and Amphibians, accessed 31 October 2026