Please help, do tadpoles shed their skin?

[MsBlueRose]

I noticed a small patch of clear looking "something" on both of my new leopard frogs, is this normal? I looked up a few questions online and discovered that tadpoles do in fact shed their skin but it could not tell me what it looks like or when they start shedding or anything useful at all for that matter... Please help! If these little guys are starting to grow some kind of fungus then I need to know how to treat them. The tadpoles are eating and moving around normally, or at least one of them is eating for sure. I just got them 3 days ago so the second one has not started eating yet. I think the tadpoles are just about to start morphing as they have what look to be hips forming on the rear end of of their body right before the tail. If anyone has a useful web page that details the tadpole shedding please help me wiht that info. Also, if there is a know fungus that looks clear and grows on Leopard Frogs, please fill me in. These are my first ever tadpoles so I have no idea what to expect from them. I don't want to lose my babies, someone please help me!? I wish I could post a pic of them, I will re-examine them in the morning and update the post accordingly. Thank you again!

[flybyferns]

We could really use a photo

[MsBlueRose]

I don't have my camera cable and my camera is dead... I will try to borrow a phone from the neighbor and send a pic that way, I just hope it is clear enough to help. They look like they are wrapped in a clear gel that is attached to their skin and there is a spot on their side that looks like it is starting to peel off. And if that was not enough, there is a hole in the middle of the smaller ones side where the skin looks like it is coming off... it is a tiny hole, barley the size of a straight-pin and about a millimeter or two deep. The one with the hole in the side is also not eating or I have not seen him eat yet, and I have seen the other eating, quiet happily as well. I am really worried about them. Any starter tips would be great until I can get a "good" pic of them up for everyone.

[UncleChester]

How big are the tadpoles? The skin might appear semi transparent at earlier stages.

If you are unable to get photos, you might want to do a google search for leopard frog tadpoles photos and compare yours with other tads that way.

...They look like they are wrapped in a clear gel that is attached to their skin and there is a spot on their side that looks like it is starting to peel off. And if that was not enough, there is a hole in the middle of the smaller ones side where the skin looks like it is coming off... it is a tiny hole, barley the size of a straight-pin and about a millimeter or two deep...

Are these in flaps/holes in the same locations on the tadpoles? One per tadpole? If so, they could be the spiracles (an 'exhaust').

A wood frog tadpole is pictured below, the spiracle is clearly visible on the left side of it's body and looks like a flap of skin waiting to peel off. I believe Leopard frogs keep theirs in the same location:

[Jayzie Greenfrog]

Im so sorry you are having problems with your little ones I do so hope it proves to be nothing nasty but I am sure you are in the right place to get the best advice. Best wishes Jay

[Ted]

They do shed their skin..as they are developing to change,,so do their mouth parts ,their tube turns into a mouth and they get lungs.dont take them out of water,just lower the water and put some rocks or something in with them to crawl on..