feet nibblers!!

I know this isn't right place for this thread but not sure where to put it! Mods can move if they like.,,
Went to Nottingham yesterday and in one of the shopping centres they had "Happy Feet" where the fish nibble skin of your feet. Hubby wanted me to have a go, but I felt sorry for the fish. Chap said they belonged to the carp family and were well treated. They looked like algae eaters, I was so excited, high light of my shopping trip. I am not sure whether I approve but they assured me fish were happy. I think this was the stage when OH led me away before I ask what else they feed them on, was they sure folks feet had nothing on them could hurt the fish, and was the water the right temperature....

They where most likely Garra ruffa. I have on in my 21G. They like temps 18-24c. They do eat dead skin, They do it in the wild when theres not much food around but they do prefer algae and meaty foods like bloodworm, when feed properly they wont feed on skin so the ones there are probably not being fed on anything else.

We have one of those places in Wigan...i really dont want fish nibbling on my feet!

They dont really bit they just sort of latch on like a plec. It did it alot when i first got him but now hes on blood worm hes allway full up.

Even I'd prefer blood worms over feet!

Can you imagine some of the feet that get stuck in front of them? yuck

Yeah, they will be Garras (Doctor Fish), it seems to be the latest craze for these salon places. I think it's pretty grim... they're kept in glass boxes without any gravel, plants or anything, and probably not filtered and just replaced as they die off. Yuck.

I don't know which is worse. The living conditions or the feet! Never heard
of it before myself until now.

KalandraJane wrote:Yeah, they will be Garras (Doctor Fish), it seems to be the latest craze for these salon places. I think it's pretty grim... they're kept in glass boxes without any gravel, plants or anything, and probably not filtered and just replaced as they die off. Yuck.

Yeah thats exactly right, Them places but about 1000 at a time so loosing a few doesnt make any difference to them.


Its not just feet they will eat any dead skin, People with some skin conditions go there to try and get rid of it.

I've heard about this before. It is really grim KJ, poor fish!

The water was filtered, not sure how it worked. OH sort of dragged me away, after I declined him paying for me to have a go, I think he thought I was going to get my RSPCF hat on! and it was very busy in the shop...

They have one of these in the Metro Centre in Newcastle. I went in to read all the signs/info on the walls... Mum thought I'd gone mad and was considering it! An employee came to offer us a time slot to which the response was "Are you insane?? No" He just had to ask "Oh? Why's that...?"... We were polite... but several people left the shop...

Well after reading this i would avoid going there
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Oh glad I didnt have a go now!