molting???

[annawolv1010]

can anyone give me some info on molting?

[tgampper]

African bullfrogs do molt as they grow. Like snakes, frogs must shed their skin so they can get bigger. It is normal for frogs to eat their shed.

In the wild, these frogs will go through a process called cocooning. Cocooning occurs when the frog goes through a period of dormancy (aestivation) and ensures that they retain enough water to survive until favorable conditions return above ground. —In the wild, both species of frogs (dwarf and giant African bullfrogs) spend most of the year (about 10 months) buried in the substrate, appearing only when the rains set in. —Both young and adult frogs produce cocoons formed by shed skin layers and soil particles sticking to it. —The frogs are capable of reducing their evaporation rate by 50%. As the frogs sleep, the cocoon that covers the whole body except the nostrils, will harden.

The frog exists on its fat and moisture reserves. To maximize these resources, it enters a state of low metabolic activity. —Only the water from heavy rains can penetrate to their underground chamber and this is the trigger that awakens them. As water hits the cocoon, it will "melt" and the frog will digest the shed.

According to studies, a healthy, adult African bullfrog will loose up to 20% of its body mass during a long period of aestivation. In captivity, there is really no need to aestivate your frogs, unless you are serious about breeding them.

[DeeDub]

That pretty well covers it.

I'll summarize.
Its normal, natural, will happen depending on frog growth rate, they eat it. Its cool to watch....umm..that's about it.

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Thanks
DW

[bullfrog1986]

My frog shed this morning, I woke up and found him in the pond with most of it in the water.