Introduction
Fish are chordates that live in the water and breathe via the gills. These aquatic animals are mostly cold-blooded and do not have any limbs nor digits. They make up a huge source of food word wide. They are an integral part of many cuisines and their nutritional values are very high. They are also kept in aquariums and at homes at pets because of their beauty and how they fascinate humans. Throughout the years many religions have considered fish as deities. Fish are also important because fishermen around the world depend on catching fish for a living. People who keep fish as a hobby and like to collect a variety of fish know that some times fishes are poisoned by toxic waste products and other times fish may have diseases that are manifested by shimmying.
History
Fish diseases may be due to chemicals or parasites. Fish have many different defences to protect themselves against such conditions. These include skin as the first line of defence. Next there are scales and secretion of mucus that lines their epidermis. Fish, like humans, also have inflammatory responses to pathogens. Humans have, with scientific and biologic advances, developed vaccines to immunize the fish from diseases. Groups of small fish use cleaning behaviours to remove external parasitic micro organisms.
Features
The shimmies is when a fish has a disease it makes the body of the fish move from side to side. This wagging is such that the fish otherwise stays normally still and may even rub itself on the objects near by in the environment in order to scratch the itch it is feeling. This behaviour or symptom is called shimmying. Shimmying points towards the fact that the water in which the fish is living does not have the electrolytes that the body of the fish needs. Such lacking composition of the water causes the metabolism of the fish to slow down and become abnormal. If not corrected promptly, this can be deadly. Shimmying can be successfully cured by adding one percent salt solution to the water. Sodium bicarbonate or powdered coral sand can also be used to increase the pH level of the environment if and when needed. Products are sold in markets and fish stores that have the correct amount and type of salt. These can be used in case shimmying occurs.
Tips and comments
One of the most important thing to be careful of, especially if you have an aquarium at home, is to check whether the other fish in your aquarium are salt tolerant or not. This, of course, should be noted before you add the salt solution so that no fish species get harmed. The shimmies are common in Mollies and Guppies fishes. You can be sure that the fish is shimmying by noticing the following curious behaviour. The fish will stay in one place but it will look as if it is swimming fast. If steps are taken to cure this symptom quickly your fish will be saved from further stress, disease and death.
