Mermaid

A mermaid is a life state that appears in The Sims 3: Island Paradise. Mermaids are playable, just as with other occult life states. Both male and female mermaids will be possible, though both are referred to as mermaids.

Becoming a Mermaid
Sims can become a mermaid in the following ways:


 * Buying the "Mermadic Kelp" lifetime reward.
 * Obtaining Mermadic Kelp from a mermaid. (Ask about "Fish Parts.")
 * Having a child with a mermaid. (50% chance if the Sim is non-mermaid, 100% if both Sims are mermaids.)

Appearance
Mermaids look like normal Sims from the torso up, but have colorful tails while in the water. When on land, mermaids have legs covered in colourful scales. Females have clothes like a seashell bikini while underwater. The color of the scales and seashell bikini can be changed in the mirror by using the "Change Scale Color" interaction. The tails between males and females are also differently shaped. Toddler and Child mermaids also have fish scales and they can change color as they grow older, but you have the power to change the color. Child mermaids won't grow tails when in the water, they will only have them when they become teens.

Abilities
Mermaids differ from other Sims in the following ways:


 * Mermaids can breathe and stay underwater indefinitely.
 * They have a "Hydration" motive.
 * Can summon other mermaids with a conch shell.
 * Can summon sharks if they have the Evil trait.
 * Will not be attacked by the Kraken and underwater monster.
 * Can die of dehydration.
 * Gain max diving skill upon becoming a teen.
 * Mermaids can eat normal food, but prefer kelp & fish.
 * Can eat fish raw.
 * Swim faster than normal Sims (both underwater and above).
 * Can have their skin dried out by the sun or fires.

Hydration Motive
Mermaids have a Hydration motive which can be fulfilled by going into salt water, going into a pool, taking a shower/bath, or being in the rain if The Sims 3: Seasons is installed. If the motive starts getting too low, Mermaids will start to dry out. First, they become chapped, then get flaky, before finally collapsing to the floor. If another Sim does not splash water on them within a given amount of time, the Mermaid will die.

Mermaids will also have the need to swim in salt water every once in a while or they turn into a normal human sim. However there is a lifetime reward called "Permanent Mermaid" available for 5,000 points which prevents them from ever turning human.

Trivia

 * The mermaid was mentioned in The Sims Medieval, in one of the random events in docks.
 * The Sims 3: Seasons has two clothing pieces and a hairstyle which have a look akin to a mermaid.