Molly Shimmy

[Little_Orca]

My molly has been shimmying. I changed the water and added some aquarium salts and I am hoping she will be fine.

I know that shimmying is brought up from stress and disease (and the molly has a fungus that she is being treated for). I was jsut wondering, do fish do this as a form of comfort? [such as a human rocking back and forth or a cat purring when it's ill]

Just curious.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I think they do it when they are in discomfort and its like the fish equivilent of itching and if she's got fungus she's probably just trying to scratch it off, just keep the water quality as good as posible and keep treating her with the salt and med and it should pass .

 

[afireinside]

i'm assuming u keep ur fish in heated water.

 

[Little_Orca]

Yup. my fish is kept in water that is perfect for her according to all the info out there.

 

[Annastasia]

Treating with salt is the best you can do for her. I'd move her to a hospital tank, because shimmies can be fatal to her if she doesn't get treated soon. Add the normal amount of salt you would (Usually it's about 1 tablespoon per 5 gallons) and then add a couple extra tablespoons. Make sure the temperature is about 78F, and then do water changes because bad water can sometimes cause shimmies. Remember to add salt back in once you do the water changes...and just add the amount of salt for the water you took out, and put back in.

Good luck, and I hope she gets better soon!