Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi. Got one from left field.

Can any one tell us what the fish are that are used in Thailand at day spas. They are the ones that nibble the dead skin of your feet

Presume that we would also need an import licence.

Have a friend thats interested in setting something up in her Health Food Shop

I know them as doctor fish but Im unsure of the species name.

You cant import them here.
They are also pretty unsanitary, and banned for that use in some countries.
They dont actually eat the old skin, they rasp it off and the filter needs to catch it.
Most shops use a UV filter to kill off bacteria.
And the fish need to be severely underfed to actually rasp on your feet.
Thats why there are always dead ones in the tanks, the poor things are starving!

If you really want them, look for Garra rufa or Cyprinion macrostomum.

Give your friend a heap of yabbies Ron.. that will sort out any loose skin on the feet.

Mmmm, can't see that you've got a snowball's chance in hell of getting a permit to bring them in

Yeah no chance of getting them in thats for sure!!

BUT, you can always train the little silvers to nibble on ya feet just by stepping into some crushed up pellets a few times and then they come looking for it!

From the wikipedia article on Garra Rufa;

"In the UK, the Health Protection Agency issued a guidance on October 2011 warning that fish foot spas could potentially spread blood borne viruses such as Hepatitis and HIV if infected clients bleed into the spa water."

Pretty scary if you ask me! Even though it's only "potentially", I'd stay away from them.

One day I went for a swim in a water filled quarry in the Perth suburb of Martin, the water was full of Gambusia and if you sat still long enough they would start to have a nibble at your skin.

Should have no trouble locating Gambusia in Aus, transporting them is probably illegal though.

Thanks to all for the info.
I am completely OFF the idea but have passed on the relevant info to my friend.
Whats wrong with a good old pumice scrub???

Hahaha, Troutman. I dont think I want to eat foot nibbling silvers but gr8 photo (the regulation feet and also knees )

I was in Cambodia last year and they had them set-up all over the place...they were using Talapia. Not sure how well the clean your feet, but it did tickle quite a bit.