Shimmies

[Len90]

Well, I think one of my mollies might have the shimmies. As of the past two days, he has been staying right under my filter. Tonight, while turning off the light, I caught him moving side to side but not going anywhere. He didn't take any food last night. I am not sure if this is the shimmies, but it is the only thing that I can think of. Is there anything I can do?

pH: 6.4 (put in drops to start raising it gradually to over seven)
Nitrates: around 80 ppm (doing water changes every other day to lower it)
Nitrite: 0ppm
Ammonia: 0ppm

I just saw him swim a little, but he went back to the same place. Could this be the shimmies?

Thanks in advance,
Len

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

When you say the molly is moving from side to side, does he appear to be shaking? Or does it look more like he has lost his control of direction in general? What size tank are you keeping him in (how many gallons is it) and what is its inhabitants?
ps: about the nitrates, i have heard of various stories of people having high nitrates in their tap water, so it may also be worth testing the tap water before you put it in just to rule this out .

 

[Opcn]

Do you have salt in your water? Also if your tap pH is 6.4 and you do water changes often drops aren't going to cut it for raising the pH, to raise the pH you could switch to a crushed coral substrate, all depends on what other fish you have.

 

[Len90]

He does more of a shake that I've seen twice while sitting still towards the surface. He is in a ten gallon tank and is around a 2.5 inch fish with the fancy fins. There is another smaller molly and a female who is around 1 and 3/4 inches who I got at the same time as him. Secondly, there is a redeye tetra who is over two years old and has one eye (other was lost due to a popeye) and there is a female platty. I know it is very hard to keep a platty with a molly. However, all was well up til now. I add the salt as directed by the packaging to maintain a stable aquarium.

Also, I did the tests on my tap water and my tank water. My tank is a 6.4 pH while the tap is a 7.2 pH. The nitrate of the tap is 0 - .5 ppm.

I am hoping that getting this tank back to normal would be able to help the fish out.

 

[Opcn]

I take it you just went a while without doing a water change then, just keep at it on the pH and nitrate, don't bother with the pH drops, just add the little bit of salt and wait. Also, the tetra should not be alone, but you haven't got room to complete the school in your tank, looks to me like you need to upgrade Finally be sure you aren't overfeeding, overfeeding causes higher nitrates and lower pH.

 

[BigC]

You need to add some salt. The mollies will also appear blotchy and develop what looks like mouth fungus, all can be cleared up with a little cooking or marine salts.
Regards
BigC

 

[Len90]

Thanks for the help. I was a bad boy and didn't take care of my tank for a month because of misc. problems that came up. Everytime I had planned ended up being scratched. I am back working at it. Also the tetra's playmate died. I purchased a replacement, but it died in three days. I am hoping to get someone for him soon.

Thanks again,
Len

 

[furryrabbit]

before buying more fish , i would try to figure out your problem first - what size is the tank?

 

[Opcn]

ten gallon tank

The tetra doesn't need one playmate, he needs at the very least 5 more, 9 would be better, and they need to be the same species, and they all need alot more room than you have in your current tank, I would recomend taking him into an LFS that has some redeye tetras and hopeing that someone buys a school of them.

 

[geezer]

my black molly had the shimmies too. I was told that there was nothing I could do for her since I have clown loaches in my tank and cant add marine salt to make the water brackish. I raised the water temp to 82 and added aquarium salt. The next day she was eating again and it's been a week and she is as happy as could be.

 

[Len90]

ten gallon tank

The tetra doesn't need one playmate, he needs at the very least 5 more, 9 would be better, and they need to be the same species, and they all need alot more room than you have in your current tank, I would recomend taking him into an LFS that has some redeye tetras and hopeing that someone buys a school of them.

There was a group of them two years ago, but they gradually died. I really changed my plan and unfortunately no store would want him. After him, I am done with schooling fish. He does alright on his own and is the most active in my tank even though he has one eye.

before buying more fish , i would try to figure out your problem first - what size is the tank?

That is what I was doing. I am not buying until I get him better. I added some salt to the tank after my post at 4:37, so I will see. I am starting to get some more swimming out of him now, so I am hoping this will help.
Until my pH is raised, and the nitrates are down is my plan.