Deformed Female Swordtail?

[Raechal]

A week or two ago I picked up a couple swordtails for my community tank. Sad to say that the male died and I am not sure why. I noticed that one of the females in particular would always hide and I would never see her.

She is now coming out more and I am guessing she feels more comfortable in the tank.

Today I noticed her swimming was unusual. She swims more by wiggling her body than using her fins and her dorsal fin is always down and she never uses it. Same with her anal fin it is always down and never being used. Her tail fin also seems clamped? she doesn't use her tail fin to swim much either.

After swimming for awhile I see her rest sometimes on the bottom of the tank. She will just lay on the sand and relax. Then she will swim around more. She eats fine and looks completely healthy otherwise.

Is this some sort of condition or has anyone else had a swordtail like that?

A lot of the time when I find her hiding she is "resting" I am wondering if she chooses to hide when she "rests" to protect herself from possible predators.

 

[thereverendturtle]

Sounds like she has the shimmies. Honestly, that's what its called, and I can't remember how to treat it.

 

[BeccaAmes]

I've never heard of the shimmies, but upon doing some research-
 
The shimmies are a symptom rather than an actual disease and it occurs when the fish are under severe stress from environmental problems.
Most livebearers are sensitive to acidic water conditions, and the shimmies may happen to any of them kept in the wrong water conditions. Poor water quality can also trigger the shimmies.
 
-I suggest you test the water quality. If poor water quality is the case, maybe it would be best to clean the tank more often! I didn't find any specific way to treat it, but best of luck to you and your fish!

 

[KrystaK]

I've dealt with the Shimmies in my tank before. I have a fresh water tank and I had mollies in it, a 2 male to 4 female ratio. I lost a female mysteriously, she was my oldest fish so I thought she had died of old age. anyways one of my males started displaying such signs, almost like he had lost the use of his fins or something.
I posted on here and someone suggested I try adding aquarium salt to the tank, as Mollies like slightly salty water. I did so and he recovered \
 
I'm not saying it will work for your fish as they may not like mildly salty water but it worked for my mollies.