Really Bad Shimmies
- Thread starter lasbh9
- Start date
Can you tell us a little bit about the tank. What size, how long has it been set up, type of filtration, substrate, plants or plastic, how many occupants, what temperature do you keep it, water change schedule, feeding schedule, what water conditioner, and what are the parameters in the tank: ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph, temp, (GH and KH would be helful, too) What kind of testing equipment; strips or liquid test kit.
Mollies prefer around 80 degrees and can start to shimmy if they get chilled. Also, they need to eat a lot of veggie foods. They do better in 20 gallons or so. I think stress is a factor so good hiding places are helpful.
Clean water is needed so keep you ammonia at 0, nitrite 0, nitrates 20ppm or less.
I hope they will be OK.
Mollies prefer around 80 degrees and can start to shimmy if they get chilled. Also, they need to eat a lot of veggie foods. They do better in 20 gallons or so. I think stress is a factor so good hiding places are helpful.
Clean water is needed so keep you ammonia at 0, nitrite 0, nitrates 20ppm or less.
I hope they will be OK.
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Actually Molly's temp range is 64-82 degrees (fishbase.org). Mine did best when they were in with Goldfish in an unheated tank. You shouldn't need a heater in a Molly-only tank. They do need super super HARD water or brackish/marine (with marine salt, not regular salt). If you've got soft water Mollys won't do well and one of the things you'll see is shimmying.
That said-you need to make sure your ammonia and nitrite are '0' and nitrates are (hopefully) under 20 ppm but not over 40 ppm or so.
Also-how long has the tank been set up? Is the Molly new?
That said-you need to make sure your ammonia and nitrite are '0' and nitrates are (hopefully) under 20 ppm but not over 40 ppm or so.
Also-how long has the tank been set up? Is the Molly new?
I agree on all Ksane, except from what I've read being chilled can cause shimmies to start. Neale Monks on WetWebMedia.com writes about them that they do best in waters 77 to 82 degrees, and generally prefer warmer water.
However, I haven't ever kept Mollies and your experience with them indicates that isn't always the case, so that certainly may not be part of the problem here.
Here's what Neale Monks had to say:
"Although water temperature may vary depending on geographical location, most mollies seem prefer warm water environments and are most common where the water temperature is around 25-28˚C (77-82˚F). These streams aren’t saline though, and while mollies certainly are found in brackish waters, that isn’t their primary habitat."
Whatever it is I sure hope they will be OK.
However, I haven't ever kept Mollies and your experience with them indicates that isn't always the case, so that certainly may not be part of the problem here.
Here's what Neale Monks had to say:
"Although water temperature may vary depending on geographical location, most mollies seem prefer warm water environments and are most common where the water temperature is around 25-28˚C (77-82˚F). These streams aren’t saline though, and while mollies certainly are found in brackish waters, that isn’t their primary habitat."
Whatever it is I sure hope they will be OK.
I agree. I am a big advocate of keeping mollies in low end brackish conditions. Also, the most common result of shimmies that I have seen are water that is depleted of total dissolved solids and water in which the quality is starting to slip.
My biggest suggestion is to perform a significant water change.
I keep mollies in a SG of 1.005. Before switching to brackish, I had issues with recurrent ich, columnaris and fungus. I have not had a single health issue since going brackish. Not one.
I keep them also at room temp. I have males that are crossing the 5 inch mark, and females that are dropping fry. I don't necessarily think they need water in the 80's, as indicated by the health of my fish.
Kristina
I normally agree with a lot of what Neale Monks says-maybe him and FishBase.org need to get together 
I know my Mollys did super in 70 degree water, but my water is also super hard. I suspect temperature isn't the problem with the OP Molly anyway. We'll wait to hear back.
I know my Mollys did super in 70 degree water, but my water is also super hard. I suspect temperature isn't the problem with the OP Molly anyway. We'll wait to hear back.
Excessively hi Ph and water too cold often cause shimmies. Try raising the temp slowly and see if it stops.
I'd go with the experience and advise of you guys any day over any so called expert on any other website or forum. Except maybe Heiko Bleher, lol.
I did read similar statements by Molly-keepers on other forums about being chilled, but they were probably speaking of water that is excessively cold, and I know Kyryah (tank Nazi :grinyes is one of ACs gurus and though I'm not as familiar with you, Ksane, your experience with Mollies speaks for itself.
TDS, as Kyryah stated may certainly be the issue. If you could get the liquid test kit for GH and KH you could know if the water is too soft for them.
I'd go Brackish if you can. Kyryah has incredible tanks and critters so I'd follow her advise to go brackish with them, as soon as you can.
I did read similar statements by Molly-keepers on other forums about being chilled, but they were probably speaking of water that is excessively cold, and I know Kyryah (tank Nazi :grinyes
is one of ACs gurus and though I'm not as familiar with you, Ksane, your experience with Mollies speaks for itself.TDS, as Kyryah stated may certainly be the issue. If you could get the liquid test kit for GH and KH you could know if the water is too soft for them.
I'd go Brackish if you can. Kyryah has incredible tanks and critters so I'd follow her advise to go brackish with them, as soon as you can.
Molly have to have super hard water (or brackish) and like stated-temp range is 64-82 degrees. I don't like to argue but I'm really shocked if you guys are reading info on Mollys saying they need soft water and high temps. Because that's just flat wrong.