Fish Pedicures and Fish Spas | Beauty and Wellness - Class 6 PDF Download

What is a fish pedicure?

• During a fish pedicure, also known as a fish spa treatment, patrons place their feet in a tub of water filled with small fish called Garra rufapdf iconexternal icon. Garra rufa are sometimes referred to as “doctor fish” because they eat away dead skin found on peoples’ feet, leaving newer skin exposed.
• Garra rufa are native to the Middle East, where they have been used as a medical treatment for people with skin diseases, like psoriasis.
• human feet in water with tiny fish swimming around them

Why have some states banned the use of fish pedicures?

Each state has the authority to ban fish pedicures. Some states have banned the use of fish pedicures.
Reasons for the bans include the following:

• The fish pedicure tubs cannot be sufficiently cleaned between customers when the fish are present.
• The fish themselves cannot be disinfected or sanitized between customers and there is no effective way to disinfect the tubs. Because of the cost of the fish, salon owners are likely to use the same fish multiple times with different customers, which increases the risk of spreading infections.
• Chinese Chinchin, another species of fish that is often mislabeled as Garra rufa and used in fish pedicures, grows teeth and can draw blood, increasing the risk of infection.
• According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,pdf iconexternal icon Garra rufa could pose a threat to native plant and animal life if released into the wild because the fish is not native to the United States.
• Fish pedicures do not meet the legal definition of a pedicure.
• Some state regulations specify that fish at a salon must be contained in an aquarium.
• The fish must be starved to get them to eat skin, which might be considered animal cruelty.