eSHa Exit Dosing Guide: Dealing with Ich and "Velvet"

There is nothing worse than coming home, looking at your favorite fish, and seeing those tiny white salt grains. You start to panic, you grab a bottle of eSHa Exit, and then you realize you've lost the little paper instruction sheet. We've all been there.

I’ve used Exit more times than I’d like to admit (usually after adding "just one more fish" without quarantining—don't be like me). Here is the real-world, day-by-day breakdown of how to actually use this stuff effectively, including how to handle those scary "Super Ich" strains.

The "Life Cycle" Trap: Why one dose isn't enough

A lot of people dump in one dose, see the spots disappear, and think they've won. They haven't. You have to understand that those white spots on the fish are actually armored cysts. They are 100% immune to medication while they are attached to the fish.

eSHa Exit only kills the parasite when it's "free-swimming." This is why the 3-day (and sometimes 5-day) schedule is non-negotiable. You’re waiting for the cysts to fall off, hatch, and enter the water column where the meds can actually reach them.

The Standard 3-Day Protocol

For a normal outbreak, this is the bread-and-butter schedule. I always recommend doubling-checking your volume with our calculator first, because accuracy matters here.

When to keep going: "Super Ich"

Sometimes Day 3 comes and goes, and you still see a few stubborn spots. Don't panic. Some strains of Ich are tougher or the water is colder (which slows the cycle down). eSHa allows you to extend the treatment to Day 4 and Day 5 at the 10-drop rate. If you see spots on Day 3, keep going until they are gone plus one extra day.

Treating Velvet (Oodinium)

Velvet looks like a fine gold or yellowish dust on the fish rather than discrete white spots. Velvet is more dangerous and progresses faster than standard Ich. For Velvet, use the following:

• Day 1: 20 drops per 100L
• Day 2: 20 drops per 100L
• Day 3: 20 drops per 100L

Maintaining a higher concentration for the first three days is critical to killing the Velvet dinospores.

Critical Success Factors

1. Remove Carbon: Active carbon will suck the medication right out of the water. Remove it!
2. Increase Aeration: Medications lower dissolved oxygen. Use an air stone.
3. Lights Off: Dyes like Malachite Green are light-sensitive. Keep the aquarium lights off during the 3-day treatment for maximum impact.

Conclusion

Whether you're dealing with a mild case of Ich or a persistent "Super Ich" strain, following the correct day-by-day sequence is the only way to ensure success. Never stop the treatment early just because the spots have disappeared—the parasites could still be alive in the substrate!

Written by Richard James

Aquarist and author specializing in disease prevention and treatment. Keeping your aquarium healthy one drop at a time.

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