Shedding ADF or is she sick???

jtruswell

jtruswell

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Jan 18, 2006
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I have two ADFs, one male and one female just by chance (we weren't planning on it, but that's what we brought home--they weren't mature enough to tell at the pet store.) Anyway, I noticed last night the female was very pale, which has never happened before. I've read that before they shed, they turn whitish but fungal infections can also do that. How long should I wait before treating for fungal infections, that is to say, how long exactly to frogs take to shed their skin?

I really love my frog and don't want to lose what at least were if not now, very healthy specimens. Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks!

Jade
 
I'd be cautious--many of the fungal treatments available for aquaria are not suitable for amphibians.
 
I've never kept reptiles or amphibians, so I don't know anything about disease or treatment. However, recent news in the local newspapers here in Costa Rica were telling about the confirmed extinction of a golden toad that was only found in Monteverde Tropical Forest Reserve. The culprit was a fungus that started infecting their skin and suffocated the animal.

I'm just trying to be infoirmative, since I don't know if your frog species breathes by skin or by lungs.
 
Sorry, the frog is a african dwarf frog and she's an air breather, but fully aquatic. I've had her (and her partner) for about 3 months now. Originally had four but I lost two to red leg shortly after I purchased them. I've had these two now for the three months without incident. Both seem happy and healthy with no swimming problems except my female is much paler suddenly.

Sorry for any confusion. I get lazy and type ADF without thinking. :D

Jade
 
patoloco: that would by chytrid fungus, which is a concern for amphibians everywhere.

JT-I'd give her a day or two. If it gets worse or fails to get better, than look into treatment. If it's shedding, she'll be done with it within a few days. Color changes can also be a seasonal thing, or a temp thing. If you've verified that the setup is cycled, and she's not being picked on, the color change may just be a normal change as she matures.
 
Thanks Oriongirl.

I know she doesn't get picked on, the tank parametres are fine (and tank has been fully operation for maybe 6 months now so I also know it's cycled! :D)

I appreciate the time frame. I've never had any animal before that sheds it's skin so I had NO idea how long to wait before attempting to treat the *possible* problem. She has been growing quite a bit, so maybe it's just for some new skin? :)

Anyway, thanks again!

Jade
 
My ADFs have occasionally changed colour, becoming lighter or darker. If the tank parms are good and she's behaving normally, she's almost certainly fine.

ADFs may shed as often as every week, but usually they eat the shed skin so you won't see it unless you're lucky.

shedskin.jpg

Shed skin pic from http://aquaticfrogs.tripod.com/id14.html (warning: annoying popup ads on this page)
 
Shedding is a common thing. Like snakes, frogs shed their skin occasionally. It's perfectly normal.
 
Well, if she did shed her skin, I didn't see it, however, she's back to normal colour and still happily active.

Thanks all for the help!

Jade
 
My lighter colored ADFs turn pale sometimes too. I thought something was wrong as well, but everything turns back to normal in a day or two. Glad everything is okay though.
 
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