White's Tree Frog (Dumpy Frog) Feeding Guide
White's Tree Frogs (Ranoidea caerulea), also called Dumpy Frogs or Australian Green Tree Frogs, are insect-eating amphibians known for their round appearance, expressive faces and enthusiastic appetites.
In captivity, appropriately sized live insects should form the foundation of their diet. Variety, proper prey size, gut-loading and supplementation are especially important for amphibians, because feeder insects alone may not provide the calcium and micronutrients frogs require.
What do White's Tree Frogs eat?
White's Tree Frogs primarily eat live prey. Captive frogs can be offered a rotation of appropriately sized feeder insects:
Banded crickets and appropriately sized discoid roaches make particularly useful regular feeders, while worms provide additional variety.
Best feeder insects
Banded crickets
Banded crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus) are an excellent staple. Their movement encourages natural hunting behavior, and the range of sizes makes it easy to match feeder to frog.
Young frogs need smaller crickets; larger adults can take larger prey.
Staple feeder. Juveniles and adults.
Discoid roaches
Discoid roaches (Blaberus discoidalis) are another excellent option, particularly for Florida keepers looking for an alternative to feeder roaches that may be restricted in the state.
Choose appropriately sized nymphs rather than assuming an adult frog needs the largest available roach.
Staple or rotational feeder. Juveniles and adults.
Mealworms
Mealworms add variety but are better used as part of a varied rotation than as the only feeder offered. Their tendency to burrow means they should not simply be released into deep substrate and forgotten.
Rotational feeder. Juveniles and adults.
Superworms
Superworms are larger, active feeders suitable for appropriately sized adults. Because superworms have strong mandibles, supervise feeding and remove any uneaten worms rather than leaving them loose in the enclosure.
Occasional or rotational feeder. Adults.
Hornworms
Soft-bodied, moisture-rich feeders that provide variety for larger frogs. They grow remarkably quickly, so always check the size of the individual hornworm before offering it — one that was appropriately sized several days ago may no longer be.
Occasional variety feeder. Larger juveniles and adults.
Never feed wild hornworms
Do not collect hornworms from tomato, tobacco or other garden plants and offer them to your frog.
Wild hornworms may have consumed plant compounds or been exposed to pesticides and other chemicals that make them inappropriate as feeders. Use captive-raised feeder hornworms produced on a controlled diet instead.
Choosing the right feeder size
Prey size matters. Choose insects sized for the individual frog rather than automatically selecting the largest feeder it can swallow.
Young White's Tree Frogs should begin with smaller feeders and progress to larger insects as they grow. RFI carries multiple sizes of banded crickets and discoid roaches, making it possible to increase prey size gradually instead of jumping between feeders.
See the Feeder Size Guide.
Which size to buy
| Stage | Banded crickets | Discoid nymphs | Occasional variety |
|---|---|---|---|
| Froglet, under 2" | Small 1/8" | XS 1/8-1/4" | — |
| Sub-adult, 2–3" | Small/Medium 1/4" | Small 1/4-1/2" | Small hornworms |
| Adult, 3–4½" | Medium 3/8" → Large 1/2" | Medium 1/2-3/4" → Large 3/4-1 1/4" | Medium hornworms |
Banded crickets and appropriately sized discoid nymphs are the primary feeders at every stage. Hornworms are occasional variety. Mealworms belong in a limited rotation rather than the core diet, and superworms are an occasional item for fully grown frogs only — never for small frogs.
These frogs are famously willing eaters, and that is exactly the problem. A White's Tree Frog will take prey larger than it should have, and will keep taking it long after it has had enough. Feed to body condition rather than to appetite, and give young frogs considerably smaller prey than adults.
How often should you feed a White's Tree Frog?
Feeding frequency depends on the frog's age, size, body condition, activity level and individual needs.
Growing juveniles generally require food more frequently than mature adults, whose growth rate and energy requirements are different.
Rather than judging by how enthusiastically your frog accepts food, pay attention to body condition. White's Tree Frogs are enthusiastic eaters, and willingness to eat does not mean more food is needed.
Can White's Tree Frogs become overweight?
Yes. The rounded appearance that gives the Dumpy Frog its nickname can make excess body condition less obvious than it would be in a leaner species.
Avoid using appetite alone to determine portion size. Monitor body condition and adjust the amount and frequency of feeding when necessary. If you are unsure whether your frog is at an appropriate weight, consult a veterinarian experienced with amphibians.
Gut-loading feeder insects
What your feeder insects eat matters.
Most feeder insects do not naturally provide an ideal calcium-to-phosphorus balance for amphibians. Gut-loading means providing feeder insects with a nutritious diet before they are offered to your frog. Properly maintained feeders become part of the nutritional strategy for the animal eating them.
See Gut Loading Feeder Insects.
Calcium and vitamin supplementation
White's Tree Frogs require appropriate calcium and vitamin supplementation. Feeder insects are commonly gut-loaded and dusted with an appropriate calcium or vitamin and mineral supplement before feeding.
Follow the manufacturer's directions for the specific supplement you use.
More is not automatically better when it comes to vitamins and minerals.
Remove uneaten feeders
Don't leave uneaten live insects in the enclosure indefinitely. Crickets, roaches and worms that aren't eaten should be removed after the feeding opportunity rather than allowed to hide in the enclosure.
This also makes it easier to know how much your frog actually consumed.
Never feed wild-caught insects
Avoid feeding insects collected from your yard, garden or other outdoor areas. Wild insects may have been exposed to:
- Pesticides
- Herbicides
- Fertilizers
- Parasites
- Environmental contaminants
- Plants or other substances that make them unsuitable as feeders
Captive-raised feeder insects provide greater control over what has been fed to the prey before it reaches your frog.
A simple feeder rotation
- Staples — banded crickets and appropriately sized discoid roaches
- Rotation — mealworms
- For appropriately sized adults — superworms
- Occasional variety — hornworms
You don't need to offer every feeder at every meal. Dietary variety can be created over time.
Florida White's Tree Frog keepers
National feeding advice frequently recommends feeder roaches that Florida keepers cannot necessarily possess or purchase under the same rules that apply elsewhere.
Discoid roaches (Blaberus discoidalis) provide an important feeder option for Florida reptile and amphibian keepers.
Always verify current Florida regulations before purchasing, importing, breeding or maintaining regulated arthropod species. See Florida-Legal Feeders.
Shop feeders for White's Tree Frogs
Choosing the right feeder starts with the size of your frog.
Banded crickets · Discoid roaches · Mealworms · Superworms · Hornworms
Choose prey according to your individual frog's size, age and feeding needs.
Feeding & care note: Feeding needs vary among individual White's Tree Frogs. This guide provides general feeding information and is not a substitute for species-specific veterinary or husbandry guidance.