Frogs are amphibians and as such their skin is permeable. This means that they are constantly shedding their old skin and growing new skin. Unlike us humans who shed our skin cells in small flakes frogs literally peel their skin off in large pieces. They start at the head and work their way down shedding their skin in one big piece.
The process of molting (or shedding skin) is known as ecdysis. For frogs ecdysis is essential for keeping their skin healthy and free of bacteria and parasites. It also helps them to grow as their skin doesn’t stretch like ours does.
The old skin is full of toxins and chemicals that the frog needs to get rid of. When they shed their skin they are also getting rid of these toxins.
Frogs typically molt every 4 to 6 weeks but this can vary depending on the species of frog and the temperature of their environment. In warm weather frogs will molt more often than in cold weather.
Some frogs will eat their old skin after they shed it. This is thought to help them to get rid of any parasites that may be attached to the skin. It also provides them with some extra nutrients.
After a frog molts its new skin is soft and vulnerable. The frog will spend the next few days sitting still allowing its new skin to harden and toughen up. Once its skin is tough enough the frog will start to move around and resume its normal activities.
There are a few things that can go wrong during the molting process. If a frog sheds its skin too slowly the old skin can start to rot. This can lead to infection and even death.
Shedding skin is a natural process for frogs but there are some things that can interfere with it. For example if a frog is stressed it may not shed its skin properly. This can leave the frog vulnerable to infection.
If you keep frogs as pets it’s important to provide them with a humid environment. This will help them to shed their skin properly. You should also avoid handling your frogs too much as this can stress them out and interfere with the molting process.
Do frogs molt?
Yes frogs molt generally once a year.
