Mollys Got The Shimmies

[Twitchyfish]

Just got my new molly about a week ago. He recently startepd wagging. Other than yhat he eats and swims normally. Have a good filter and all water added is.treated. I also have a heater.

 

[bodge99]

Hello,

You could try some marine salt in the water.. Approx 1-2 teaspoons per 10l of water built up gradually.

This assumes that any other stock you have will tolerate it.

Bodge99

 

[Twitchyfish]

I have a pleco in there too. Don't think he'd like that. What causes him to shake? Stress or water poisoning or what?

 

[KCB]

Stress or water poisoning or what?

I think both of these have been shown to induce shimmies.

What is the hardness and pH of your water? Also, reading this post shows that Mollys should be kept in brackish water and not completely fresh water, but I don't think your current stock (the pleco) will tolerate that.

That is a common misconception on mollies as they can strive in BRACKISH or FRESHWATER, I have mollies in my 100% no-salt tank.

That's the common misconception, actually. Mollies don't do so well in freshwater. Sure, they can live in it, just like you could probably live in a closet your whole life, but it wouldn't be the best for you, or make you the healthiest. If you are going to keep Mollies in freshwater, it needs to be hard and alkaline. That's the kind they prefer. If it's soft and acidic, that's when you really need to add salt. Wild type Sailfins and Black Mollies are the ones that just need it, however, almost all Mollies are hybridised so it's virtually impossible to look at them and say "You need salt!". It's best to keep all of them in a bit of salt, to make them the healthiest and happiest they can be. In pure freshwater, they are much more susceptible to disease, especially shimmies, and they don't tend to live as long. Salt is the way to go with these guys.

 

[fluttermoth]

The biggest problem is that these fish are in an uncycled 6 gallon tank

You've been given some good info in your other thread; here; http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/412729-sailfin-molly/, OP

 

[the_lock_man]

Hello,

You could try some marine salt in the water.. Approx 1-2 teaspoons per 10l of water built up gradually.

This assumes that any other stock you have will tolerate it.

Bodge99

Bodge99, just jumping in with a quick suggestion is a bad thing, without asking all the right questions. In this instance, this

I have a pleco in there too. Don't think he'd like that. What causes him to shake? Stress or water poisoning or what?

means that your post was not the best advice. Could have caused the plec no end of issues.

The biggest problem is that these fish are in an uncycled 6 gallon tank

You've been given some good info in your other thread; here; http/www.fishforum...-sailfin-molly/, OP

What she said, Twitchy.