FW molly appears to have the shimmies

angyles

angyles

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Before I decided to get my sailfin mollies, I read a LOT of conflicting info on whether or not they NEED salt. After several sources saying they're fine in fresh, I went for it. I love my mollies, they're awesome diatom busters too!

well now one of my females is swimming vertical, nose UP, shimming. after doing some reading, it sounds like this is a common problem with mollies when they're kept in FW conditions. Brackish isn't really an option for me at this time. Is she doomed? what are my options here? what about the remaining mollies? they all seem happy and healthy so far.
 
They don't need brackish. It is argued whether they need aquarium salt. It is not the same as marine salt, and won't make brackish water. You can try it. I don't remember the reccomended dose, but first consider what else lives in the tank. Some fish are sensitive to aquarium salt.
 
there are loaches in there, but I've used AS before without issues. it's a delicate balance with the loaches and plants. it's so conflicting everywhere you go. some 'experts' say they absolutely are brackish but when you read their natural habitat, it ranges from completely fresh to full salt, including roadside ditches and swamps. How can this fish be so adaptable in nature yet in aquaria you often hear they absolutely require salt?
 
They'll live in salt water??? I've never heard that. Will they thrive? Or just survive?

As for your mollie, I'm no expert on fish illnesses, but it sounds to me like there is something else wrong. Is she the only fish acting this way? Is she close to the surface? It might be the aquarium salt... I dunno. From what I understand, that doesn't make sense... How long have you had her?
 
Mollies often shimmy when stressed or in poor health, "Molly Shimmies" can also be the result of water that is a bit too cold for their liking. They like around 78 degrees.

Do you see any other signs of illness? Look closely at the mouth and elsewhere on her body for redness or cottony areas. Look for any filminess, or any flat, or dull areas, especially on the back, posterior to the dorsal fin. Do her fins show any signs of rot?

I would try to reduce stress by keeping the room at low lighting and quiet. Get the temperature to 78 degrees, and I think 1 Tablespoon of salt per 5 gallons of water could help her feel better.

Do you know your ph, gh, and kh. I've read that Mollies generally prefer calcium hard water, but I know tank bred and raised fish can do well in water that is not as it is in the wild.

Does she look fat, like she may be about to give birth? Mollies sometimes shimmie when about to give birth.

Keep your ammonia and nitrites at 0, and nitrates at 20 or less.

The salt may not be optimum for your loaches, but that dose won't hurt them for a few days, just to see if this may improves her condition.
 
Hit refresh if you're reading my post above. I had to edit my post.
 
I've read many places that mollies can thrive in full salt. They're naturally found in coastal waters as well.

well she is pregnant, aren't they always? LOL but she's still a ways off from giving birth, not huge yet. She quit doing it for now. The tank is 77, water is params are all good. She shows no other signs of physical stress or illness, and is eating normal. I'll add a bit of salt and see how it goes.
 
Well it's good there are no other symptoms... it may be stress and it may be that the salt will make her feel better. Keep us updated.
 
I believe that there is no such thing as sensitivity to "aquarium" salt. All water contains some salt, even full fresh water. People use salt to treat for ich and wounds all the time.

That said, "aquarium" salt is worthless, a gimmick to get you to pay 10X the amount for it when you can just as easily use canning or pickling salt (pure salt with no additives) that costs around $1.50 per 4 lbs.

Adding this type of salt will not make your water brackish, as marine salt is required for brackish conditions. It will however add electrolytes to the water that I feel are beneficial to the health of the mollies, and at 1 tsp per gallon, should not harm your loaches or your plants.

I used to keep the Sailfins in pure freshwater, but have since switched to brackish. Since that is not an option for you, I recommend using 1 tsp of pickling salt per gallon.

Kristina

EDIT: Yes, mollies do THRIVE in full marine conditions. They do more than survive, and in my experience, have less problems with bacterial and fungal infections when kept in at least a specific gravity of 1.005. This does not mean either that they can't be kept in full FW, you just have to keep a very close eye on water quality and over all health of the fish. Since switching my mollies to brackish, they are more robust and have gone through some amazing growth spurts, and are now reaching more than 5 inches in length.
 
Aquarium salt is pure sodium chloride (which is where the electolytes claim comes from)...marine salt is a mixture of many other minerals. Huge difference, but both will raise TDS which mollies seem to thrive in.

Whats your tanks KH and GH?
 
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