What causes mollies to shimmy?
It occurs when fish are under severe stress, most often because of environmental problems. The classic scenario is when mollies are kept in soft or acidic water conditions. Though tolerant fish in many ways, they do not do well in soft or acidic water, and it is very common to see mollies kept that way start to shimmy.
How long should you acclimate black mollies?
I would take at least two hours to acclimate it as I have done it dozens of times with brackish fish like mollies and bumble bee gobies which are better looking and will live a couple of years in full salt water.
Are black mollies active?
Although peaceful, mollies are also active swimmers. Male mollies occasionally exhibit aggressive behavior, and they are known to aggressively pursue females.
Are mollies good for cycling?
Mollies are tough, easy to keep, treat, and catch if you want them out of your tank. As such, they are a popular choice for fish-in cycling, including in saltwater setups (black mollies), though more popular among traditional fish keepers😎😃 than newbies.
Why is my Molly spinning?
I have seen mollies spinning in soft water, and it’s a well documented problem for fish that have evolved in hard water over limestone the way mollies have. Often, they will recover in appropriate conditions. It could be a seasonal drop in hardness in your water supply. That happens here in Spring and early summer.
Can you convert mollies to saltwater?
Mollies can be adapted to living in saltwater aquariums! Mollies naturally live in brackish waters where rivers and oceans meet. Sailfin Mollies can be easily transitioned to saltwater from freshwater by a slow, drip acclimation of a period of at least 3-4 hours.
Do Mollies need salt water?
Mollies don’t actually need salt in their water. They can just adapt to saltwater/brackish conditions if they have to. But, adult mollies that have been reared in nothing but saltwater may need salt added to their tank because their bodies are used to living with high salinity.
How fast do black mollies grow?
How fast do black mollies grow? Black mollies tend to grow a little bit slower than normal mollies. It may take a black molly around 9 to 10 months to grow to its full size, which for males is around 3 inches in length, and for females about 5 inches in length at most.
Are black mollies aggressive?
Black Mollies are generally a peaceful community fish, but multiple males kept in the same tank can become aggressive, and females which are outnumbered by males will tend to be harassed.
Can Mollies cycle a tank?
Yes they may survive the cycle but it’s more cruel & expensive that way.
Do Mollies Shimmy in soft water?
Though tolerant fish in many ways, they do not do well in soft or acidic water, and it is very common to see mollies kept that way start to shimmy.
Is there a treatment for shimmies?
There is no treatment for the shimmies as such, but once environmental conditions improve, affected fish usually get better without problems. It is important not to try and change things too quickly though, as sudden changes, even to the better, can be so stressful that they end up making things worse!
How to maintain Mollies in a tank?
Maintaining correct Calcium and other necessary element levels will aid in healthy osmoregulation which will in turn result in healthier more disease resistant fish. You can maintain Mollies in a community tank with many but only the most sensitive South American Fish.
What is the best buffer for Molly disease?
The use of Buffers is the next step, although buffering is not as essential as the mineral cation issue for Molly Disease correcting this “Molly Disease (Shimmies). SeaChem’s Malawi Buffer can correct KH problems and even help with GH and short term positive mineral ion problems as well.