NAVIGATION
AGAINST PARASITIC CRUSTACEANS

eSHa alx

eSHa alx works against parasitic species of crustaceans (Crustacea), such as carp lice (Argulus sp.), anchor worms (Lernaea sp.), gill lice (Ergasilus sp.), etc. The parasites occur on and in the skin of fish and on the gills. eSHa alx gets rid of them quickly!

Disclaimer: Remove shrimp and crayfish before using eSHa alx! You should also be careful with lower animals like corals, anemones, sea urchins, snails, clams et al. Please read the leaflet carefully!

THAT'S NOT ALL

PRODUCT FEATURES

eSHa alx
WATCH FOR THESE

PARASITES / SYMPTOMS

FISH / CARP LICE

ARGULUS SP.

ARGULUS sp.

LERNAEA SP.

ERGASILUS

SALMINCOLA SP.

QUESTIONS?

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Our products are designed to be simple, safe & easy to use, but if you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. But before you do, please check our Frequently Asked Questions below to see if your question has already been answered.

  • Will kill shrimp and crayfish!
  • You should be careful with lower animals like corals, anemones, sea urchins, snails, clams et al. When present, remove them from the aquarium or pond before treatment or treat the fish in a quarantine tank;
  • Observe the aquarium well during treatment and, in case of complications, filter over fresh activated carbon first and then perform a water change;
  • May be harmful to aquatic invertebrates;
  • Always read the leaflet before use;
  • This product may stain if spilt;
  • Keep out of reach of children and pets;
  • Do not use with animals that are intended for consumption;
  • Store bottle and leaflet in original packaging;
  • For ornamental fish only;
  • Keep away from cuts, eyes and other sensitive areas;
  • This information is general product information, not to be mistaken for the instruction leaflet. No rights can be derived from this F.A.Q.!

Disease diagnosis is the first step towards successful and rapid disease cure. Most fish diseases are highly contagious and spread quickly in aquarium conditions, so prompt diagnosis and treatment is advised. There are some ‘early warning signals’ which should be watched for as these can indicate the onset of a disease, like swollenness, emaciation or reduced appetite.

Skin
The skin is the first line of defence and as such it is often the first to show signs of attack from infection. Any changes in skin colour or appearance should be closely watched for.

Fins
Watch your fish’s fins. Fins which are held close to the body signal an illness, particularly on live bearing fish.

Swimming behaviour
Unusual or sluggish swimming behaviour can indicate the onset of a disease. Parasitic crustaceans are generally visible with the naked eye.

eSHa alx is a veterinary medicine for ornamental fish against parasitic species of Crustacea (Maxillopoda), such as Argulus (carp lice), Lernaea (anchor worm), Ergasilus (gill lice), Salmincola (gill lice), etc. The parasitic Crustacea occur on and in the skin of fish and on the gills.

There are a few noticeable symptoms of parasitic Crustacea:

  • Trying to jump out of the aquarium/pond;
  • Scraping the entire body along stones and the bottom;
  • Visible areas where parasites have bitten (which subsequently become white as the skin dies);
  • Pale gills;
  • Listless behaviour;
  • Skittishness;
  • Weight loss; separating from the group;
  • Not eating.
  • eSHa alx is well tolerated by ornamental fish in freshwater aquaria and ponds and in marine aquaria.
  • eSHa alx is well tolerated by plants and filters.
  • You should be careful with lower animals like corals, anemones, sea urchins, snails, clams et al. When present, remove them from the aquarium or pond before treatment or treat the fish in a quarantine tank.
  • Observe the aquarium well during treatment and, in case of complications, filter over fresh activated carbon first and then perform a water change.

You may continue to filter over non-adsorbing materials such as filter-wool, sand, gravel, etc. Always remove chemical ‘active’ filter media such as (fresh) activated carbon, UV (lights), oxidisers, resins and protein skimmers, as these can have a diminishing effect on the action of eSHa alx. Keep filters running day and night.

Overdosing
It is not recommended to add more than the advised dosage when using eSHa alx.

Extended treatment

It is generally not necessary to do a water change before or after using eSHa alx. However, there are a few exceptions where a partial water change should be carried out before treating the aquarium:

  1. In the case of poor water quality. Regular testing with eSHa AQUA-QUICK-TEST can identify water quality problems in time to take corrective action when needed;
  2. If you are close to your regular water change;
  3. If using any waterconditioners (see general questions: how can I safely add tap water when doing a water change, without adding (too much) water conditioner?);
  4. If you have just used or are using another treatment: 2 x 40% water changes should be carried out over a period of two days + appropriate filtering (i.e. carbon).


Replacing some of the water during or after treatment effectively removes some of the treatment. Compensate by adding a proportional amount of medication after a water change.

In cases with little or no improvement a 50% water change is recommended without dechlorinators or oxidisers, after which the treatment can be repeated. If any unknown complication occurs immediatelyeither transfer the fish to another aquarium or do a partial water change and / or filter over fresh activated carbon and contact your expert retailer.

If you want to use another treatment straight after using eSHa -alx, you can remove all components by filtering over fresh activated carbon or perform a major water change.

  1. Parasitic crustaceans are egg-laying organisms. These eggs are often well protected against many kinds of medication. For this reason, we recommend multiple treatments. To treat the disease organisms and conditions, perform a 2 day dosage of eSHa alx over a 3 week period: dose on day 1, then on day 7 perform a 20% – 50% water change and clean the bottom of your aquarium. Repeat this on day 14: dose the calculated dosage and perform a 20% – 50% water change and clean the bottom on day 21. Calculate the volume of your aquarium (only the area occupied by water). You can use the Dosage Calculator to calculate the correct dosage.
  2. Add drops of eSHa alx to your aquarium by holding the bottle upside down and squeezing the pipette.

After an illness we strongly recommend that you give your fish a daily dose of eSHa OPTIMA, to keep them in good health. eSHa OPTIMA is a unique combination of the essential components found in tropical rivers, lakes and streams. These components are blended with trace elements, minerals, vitamins and natural growth enhancers to give your fish what they are accustomed to in their natural environment. eSHa OPTIMA stimulates and supports the natural immune defences and speeds up full recovery from illness.

For marine aquariums we strongly recommend to give your fish a dose of MINAROLL after an illness. MINAROLL is a blend of trace elements, vitamins and minerals, designed to keep your fish in the best of health. It stimulates and supports the natural immune defences and it speeds up a full recovery from illness. It can also be used in freshwater aquariums.

eSHa alx can be used in conjunction with:

  • eSHa 2000: parasitic crustaceans often cause skin irritations and damages, therefore the chance of your fish developing a secondary infection, such as a fungus and / or bacterial infection, is high. Therefore we recommend to always use alx in combination with eSHa 2000. There is no need to halve the dosage when using eSHa alx and eSHa 2000 together.
  • EXIT: treats all ‘spot’ (Ich) causing parasitic species and ‘velvet’ disease. There is no need to halve the dosage when using eSHa alx and EXIT together.
  • eSHa gdex: works against skin and gill flukes and tapeworms. There is no need to halve the dosage when using eSHa alx and eSHa gdex together.


Parasitic crustaceans often cause skin irritations / damages. As a result, the risk of secondary fungal or bacterial infections is very high. We therefore recommend that you always combine eSHa alx with eSHa 2000.

Never combine eSHa products with products from other brands, unless the manufacturer specifically states that it is safe to do so.

Carp lice (Argulus)
This is a greenish, transparent, round crustacean with black dots across its entire body. It can become up to 8 mm in size, uses two suction cups to attach itself and a sting to pierce the skin of the fish. Adult carp lice mate on the body of a fish after which the female leaves and deposits approx. 300 eggs in the aquarium/pond, after which she dies. There are many species of Argulus. The development of their eggs is temperature dependent. Depending on species and temperature, hatching can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of months. Some eggs can overwinter before hatching. The young are free-swimming and after a number of moults they search for a host. When a host is found, they develop into an adult carp louse in approximately two months and are then sexually mature. The cycle is therefore strongly dependent on temperature. Young fish can be killed by a single sting.

Anchor worms (Lernaea), gill lice (Ergasilus & Salmincola)
Only the female is parasitic, and uses nutrients and blood taken from the body of the fish to develop her eggs. The eggs are in two egg sacs located at the tail end of the parasite. When the eggs are ripe the sacs fall off. The young from these eggs are free-swimming whilst they develop into mature parasites and will then look for a partner. After mating the female searches for a fish and the cycle starts again.

Anchor worms (Lernaea)
An anchor worm is a long string protruding from the fish with two ‘tails’ (the egg sacs). Anchor worms can be up to 2 cm long. They can attach anywhere on the body of a fish but mostly appear on the underside. For example at the base of the tail fin or between the gill and pectoral fin.

Gill lice (Ergasilus & Salmicola)
These parasites often occur on the gills but also on the gill covers, fins and in the mouth. The parasites can be seen with the naked eye (± 2 mm) and are clearly visible with a magnifying glass. The fish lose weight, become weak and
listless, and the gills become pale due to anemia.

CALCULATE IT YOURSELF

DOSAGE CALCULATOR

You can use the eSHa dosage calculator to calculate the standard dosage for normal aquariums. Although this calculator is carefully put together, we strongly advise you to read the product instructions and leaflet attentively beforehand.

EXACT DOSAGES

START HERE

The user of this dosage calculator is responsible for entering correct values. eSHa Labs / Sea Horse IPC B.V. is not responsible for wrongful use of the calculator!

Refer to the RESULTS (found on the right) to get your dosage plan. Please read the leaflet, instructions and exceptions before using your chosen product!
Refer to the RESULTS (found below) to get your dosage plan. Please read the leaflet, instructions and exceptions before using your chosen product!
YOUR DOSAGE PLAN
RESULTS
ATTENTION: BE AWARE!

In case you do not have a normal aquarium, you have to adjust the dosage accordingly. For example, if you have large amounts of rocks, stones or other deco material, the dosage needs to be decreased. If you have an oversized external filter the dosage needs to be increased.

ATTENTION:

Your aquarium is smaller than 30 liters, this is smaller than the average aquarium, please check your parameters. If your parameters are correct, you can continue calculating your dosage.

ATTENTION:

Your aquarium is larger than 300 liters, this is larger than the average aquarium, please check your parameters. If your parameters are correct, you can continue calculating your dosage.

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SAFE TO USE WITH

PRODUCT COMPATIBILITY LIST

We often get questions if our products are safe to use with certain types of animals. After testing our products carefully, we have put together an overview that shows which products are safe to use with your beloved aquarium creatures.

Swipe left to see more options..

PRODUCT SHRIMP / CRAYFISH SNAILS / MUSSELS FROGS CORALS

Yes ¹

No

Yes

N/A

Yes

Yes

Yes

N/A

Yes ²

No

Yes

N/A

GASTROBEL

Yes ²

No

Yes

N/A

GASTROBAC

Yes ²

No

Yes

N/A

Yes ¹

No

Yes

N/A

Yes

Yes

Yes

N/A

Yes

Yes

Yes

N/A

Yes ²

No

Yes

N/A

PROTALON 727

Yes ²

No

Yes

N/A

PROTALON 7.0.7

Yes ²

No

Yes

N/A

No

No

Yes

N/A

No

No

Yes

N/A

Yes

Yes ³

Yes

?

Yes

Yes ³

Yes

?

No

?

Yes

?

Yes

Yes

Yes

N/A

No

No

N/A

No

Yes

No

N/A

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

INFORMATION

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TREATMENT PLAN

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FISH DISEASES

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