Is This Genuine?

[johnboy!]

I'll assume alot/all of the members of this forum are aware of the use of Garra Rufa for this new spa craze, they remove dead skin and "condition new skin" apparently... well i found a supplier
http/www.thefishspacompany.co.uk/online-store/fish/garra-rufa-fish.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=youmania_flypage.tpl&product_id=50&category_id=15


Surely they're not almost 4 pound per fish?

 

[StandbySetting]

At trade price they're incredibly cheap, but this practice is poor from a hygiene point of view, there's still no scientific evidence that documents that these fish aren't capable of spreading diseases etc.

 

[johnboy!]

It gets better, look at the prices for the spa's
http/www.garrarufaspaunit.com/?gclid=COqhpNut16oCFcYe4QodYD9N6w

 

[ZoddyZod]

This fad will all blow over in a few years if not sooner in my opinion. It surely is only selling on novelty value.

 

[johnboy!]

This fad will all blow over in a few years if not sooner in my opinion. It surely is only selling on novelty value.

Its the wow factor, i was in landudno today to just get away from things for the day, saw 2 seperate setups from the same company, hand spas, and feet spas, people were going in because of the "wow fish can clean what i can clean myself..." they were asking £10 for 15 minutes, and people were walking out saying "they dont feel cleaner!?" I'll admit the setups looks clean enough, i asked the girl running and her words were "the tanks are cleaned out daily for feaces, and the filters are run on larger tanks for the fish at night" so they seem to be looked after from this company at least, they were filtering what looked to be 24x10x10" tanks with a decent sized eheim filter so well filtered too... its just another fad

 

[Vin Swords]

Fish spa exited for hundreds of years. If not thousands.

Only problem in Europe is running cost And space. Otherwise it would have took off.

 

[Vin Swords]

In Sri Lanka you can sit in a fish bath with 24 hour water change from deep wells.... When you finally finished u just don't feel clean.... you will feel like u had shad your whole skin..


Hours of therapy would Cost less then can of coke. ( in Rupee)

 

[Athena]

Yes, we have one of these set-ups local to where I live - the few tanks are clearly visible as you pass by the salon window and it always make me sad/angry, especially when I see someone sitting there with their feet in the tank.

What I want to know is, when someone's been soaking their feet with the fish nibbling away at dead skin, what happens to the tank water when that person leaves the salon? Do they immediately do a 100% water change? If not, why would anyone want to soak their feet in water that half a dozen others have used during the course of the day? Eugh! But if they do change the water every time, then I feel sorry for the fish going through all those water changes. Also, do the fish get fed on anything else apart from dead skin?

I just don't "get" it!

 

[Louiseness]

One of my local LFS sells these guys too, if I remember rightly they're much cheaper than £4 a fish. Can't see the appeal personally though.

 

[sarah40011]

people are weird! just exfoliate and moisturise and leave the fish alone

 

[L_Plates]

What I want to know is, when someone's been soaking their feet with the fish nibbling away at dead skin, what happens to the tank water when that person leaves the salon? Do they immediately do a 100% water change? If not, why would anyone want to soak their feet in water that half a dozen others have used during the course of the day? Eugh! But if they do change the water every time, then I feel sorry for the fish going through all those water changes. Also, do the fish get fed on anything else apart from dead skin?

We had a discussion on this at work the other week.

Also as we are all aware not everyone takes great care of there feet so as you said above why would anyone want to stick there feet in the same water that has been used by multiple people before.

Also what if someone has a sore on there foot or anything that will allow blood to end up in the water ? Blood can pass on so many diseases as we know, so as you said Athena, why on earth would people do this. God only knows.

My wife had a go when she was away on a girly weekend and i voiced my thoughts on the issue of diseases being spread. She has since told me she would not be doing this again.

LP

 

[johnboy!]

If you read me post, i can't speak for all salons but the 1 i passed in landudno had external filters (eheim) on each tank and the fish were transferred into different tanks (decorated) when the salon closed, fed a pellet food...its not all bad, but obviously i can't say its the same for all the salons offering this service but this one seemed quite clued up

 

[Blubble37]

my other house has some of these in a big tank! they are lovely to watch but i'd never put my feet in!