https://www.theaquariumwiki.com/w/index.php?title=Shimmies&feed=atom&action=historyShimmies - Revision history2024-03-29T05:09:00ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.29.2https://www.theaquariumwiki.com/w/index.php?title=Shimmies&diff=66204&oldid=prev62.8.120.133: /* Curing the Shimmies */2011-04-11T12:25:15Z<p><span dir="auto"><span class="autocomment">Curing the Shimmies</span></span></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>== The Shimmies ==<br />
'''Shimmies''' or 'Shimmers', also known as "Molly Disease" or "Livebearer Disease", is most commonly seen in [[Mollies]] or [[Guppies]]. It gets it's name from the action the fish does, which is to stay relatively still and wag, or "shimmy" its body from side to side, and often includes the fish scratching and itching on objects in its environment.<br />
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== Causes of Shimmies ==<br />
Despite being labelled a disease, it is not a disease at all but the lack of electrolytes in the water that prevents the fish's metabolism from working correctly. If left untreated this can be fatal.<br />
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== Curing the Shimmies ==<br />
Electrolytes can be added to the water via [[Salt]] (add 1% solution), and it's the lack of this in the water that most often causes the Shimmies in [[Mollies]], some species of which are essentially [[brackish]] fish and not freshwater. All pet shop Mollies tend to be hybrids, so some will be fine in freshwater, some need a more salty environment.<br />
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Check first that there are no other species of animal that may be harmed by adding [[salt]].<br />
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Alternatively if your Mollies are captive bred then it is more likely the water isn't hard enough. Ensure the [[GH]], [[KH]] levels are at least 8 degrees and pH is within the range of the species affected. Add some [[sodium bicarbonate]] or powdered [[coral sand]] to increase these levels.<br />
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== Store-Bought Solutions ==<br />
There are several products on the market that are designed to help cure the Shimmies, even though the addition of the correct type of [[Salt]] should suffice. These include the following:<br />
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*Molly Bright - Liquid Treatment by Jungle Laboratories.<br />
*Shimmy Blocks<br />
*Interpet - No. 5 General Tonic<br />
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[[Category:Glossary]]<br />
[[Category:Diseases]]</div>62.8.120.133