eSHa gdex

• 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.

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.

eSHa gdex treats skin and gill flukes (Monogenea, like Gyrodactylus sp. and Dactylogyrus sp.) and tapeworms (Cestoda).

There are a few noticeable symptoms of skin and gill flukes and tapeworms:

• Excessive mucus secretion: clamped fins which can become ragged and sore;
• Rubbing its whole body against plants, decoration, rock and gravel: rubbing the head or near the gill plates;
• In advanced stages, white or yellow spots or lesions are visible on the skin (due to secondary infection);
• Small red or bloody skin patches along the body: discolorations;
• Irregular breathing / breathing through only one of the gills / spreading the gills wide open / slow swimming or hovering / pale and swollen gills that can extend beyond the gill plates: the fish remains listless and lethargic and will be swimming at the surface in advanced stages;
• The fish quickly loses weight, despite the normal quantity of food: even when the amount of food is increased, the fish does not gain weight and looks emaciated.

Not all fish have the symptoms. Often the symptoms are limited to one single fish species or to related fish species. Skin and gill flukes are practically invisible to the eye, but can be made visible under a microscope with a relatively low magnification (10-200x). Skin and gill flukes are generally fish species-specific, but they can be transferred to other fishes, through fishnets and plants or through water.

• You can use eSHa gdex to treat tropical and coldwater fish. 
• eSHa gdex can be used with marine fish in quarantaine tanks.
• eSHa gdex is well tolerated by plants and filters.

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 gdex. Keep filters running day and night.

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

Extended treatment
When treating tapeworms (Cestoda) or persistent monogenea:
Day 6: no dosage
Day 7: no dosage
Day 8: 1 drop per 1 litre aquarium water
Day 9: 0,5 drop per 1 litre aquarium water
Day 10: 0,5 drop per 1 litre aquarium water
Day 11: no dosage
Day 12: 20-50% water change

It is generally not necessary to do a water change before or after using eSHa gdex. 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.

1. To treat the disease organisms and conditions, use a 5 day treatment plan of eSHa gdex. 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 gdex to your aquarium by holding the bottle upside down and squeezing the pipette (100 drops = 3.2 ml).

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 gdex can be used in conjunction with:

• eSHa 2000: treats primary and secondary fungal infections bacterial skin infections and skin / gill parasites. There is no need to halve the dosage when using eSHa gdex and eSHa 2000 together.
• HEXAMITA: developed to combat the infamous hole-in-the-head disease that discus fish can suffer from.
• eSHa alx: works against parasitic species of Crustacea. There is no need to halve the dosage when using eSHa gdex and eSHa alx together.

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