Had my feet eaten by Garra Rufa fish

rotters · 29 May 2011 at 21:20

Was shopping the other day and got dared by my daughter so had my feet eaten by these little fish anyone else done it? it honestly isnt too bad, like a spar jet all over your feet. they spray your feet with some fluid which I presume sends them nuts. was £5 for 5 mins so not too bad.

anyone else had it done?

rotters

Greenlizard0 · 29 May 2011 at 21:23

I read that unfortunately they're a medium through which foot fungus can be spread. You don't know whose feet were in the tank before hand, and being fish you can't of course use a fungicide on them.

Van Hellseek · 29 May 2011 at 21:24

Greenlizard0 said:
I read that unfortunately they're a medium through which foot fungus can be spread. You don't know whose feet were in the tank before hand, and being fish you can't of course use a fungicide on them.

But presumably you could use one on your feet afterwards?

rotters · 29 May 2011 at 21:30

oh well, ive not noticed any ill effects after my go at it.

Greenlizard0 · 29 May 2011 at 21:32

Van Hellseek said:
But presumably you could use one on your feet afterwards?

I suppose.

rotters said:
oh well, ive not noticed any ill effects after my go at it.

Aye, wouldn't mind trying it myself one day. Were you really dared? Or did you sneak in wearing a long coat and sunglasses, to only tell the tale through the anonymity of the internet. You can tell us.

I mean I only know about it because I read a Reader's Digest at the dentist.

VirtualAdept · 29 May 2011 at 21:38

We've got some in the shopping centre I work in at the moment. People are going bonkers for it.
One woman told me it was really relaxing and if she'd not been in the centre of the mall, she'd have dropped off to sleep.

I had a look on the hpa website, and it said its not had reports of fungal infections being transferred, but its going to look again once the general craze has been going for a little while.

Glaucus · 29 May 2011 at 21:39

I have to ask why, what does it achieve or do?

Sinny · 29 May 2011 at 21:43

Won't want it done, who knows what those fish have been sucking on :eek:

Andy90 · 29 May 2011 at 21:43

They basically remove dead skin

Garra Rufa Fish.

Same effect can be achieved with a Pumice stone.

canson1991 · 29 May 2011 at 21:44

I've also seen this in a shopping center near me.

VirtualAdept · 29 May 2011 at 21:44

Invigorates the skin or something. The girls here do a bit of a foot/ankle massage after you get your feet out of the tank, so no doubt that helps with whatever impression they want to give.

EdGey · 29 May 2011 at 21:47

Sounds quite the femanine activity.

Glaucus · 29 May 2011 at 21:47

Andy90 said:
They basically remove dead skin

Garra Rufa Fish.

Same effect can be achieved with a Pumice stone.

Can they actually get through the really tough dried cracked skin, or just lose flakes? If it's the really thick dried cracked stuff, then that's pretty useful and impressive.

[TW]Fox · 29 May 2011 at 21:49

Where did this suddenly come from? 2 months ago I'd never heard of it, suddenly its everywhere.

Van Hellseek · 29 May 2011 at 21:53

I saw it in Thailand a lot. But yeah, it's relatively new over here.

Jokester · 29 May 2011 at 21:53

Just become the trendy thing in the past year or two. As someone mentioned there is a hygiene concern, but probably just the usual 'elf and safety gone mad.

[TW]Fox · 29 May 2011 at 21:54

It's enough of a concern to get it banned across most of the USA apparently.

Jimbeam3678 · 29 May 2011 at 21:55

[TW]Fox;19253059 said:
It's enough of a concern to get it banned across most of the USA apparently.

Does not say much though does it! Like been said already pretty common in SE asia and like most other things over there 1/5 of the price

ElliorR · 29 May 2011 at 21:57

Wonder what it'd feel like on your balls?

Smithy0115 · 29 May 2011 at 21:58

It feels amazing on your hands, they have little ponds of them in Thailand at the temples!