Wandering the streets of Santorini we came across a Fish Spa called “Kissingfish“. I had seen these in the media and had always wondered what a “fish pedicure” might feel like.
Living in Florida. we wear open toed shoes most days. Every other week, I visit my local spa to get a pedicure, so that my feet look pretty and fresh. A pedicure, for those of you who have never had one, is more than just getting your toenails painted. They also involve removing dead skin and calluses from your feet. This skin can be removed through various methods — via buffing with a pumice stone or through scraping with a metal foot file or razor. My salon uses what looks like a cheese grater to remove dead skin.
This is where the fish come in. Yep, we said fish. The fish, called garra rufa fish, are small fish without teeth actually nibble the dead skin cells by exfoliation and a relaxing massage with a painless method from your feet. Visitors place their feet in a tank full of garra rufa fish—a variety of Turkish toothless carp—and sit back and relax while the fish eat away the dead skin.
What does it feel like?
We went to a back room where they had a small shower. They had us wash our feet and legs to remove all the lotions and oils on our skin. They provided us with paper slippers to wear from the shower to chairs. We sat on the chairs and put our feet on the glass edge. Then we put both feet together side by side and dunked them into the water slowly. Immediately the fish were drawn to my feet. We sat with our feet in the water for a 10 minutes session. It tickled a little.
These foot-fetishistic fish have been nicknamed “doctor fish.” And while the trend of “foot dunking” is growing, there is some controversy with some saying that this might have a downside. In the US, fish spas have been banned in over ten states. The major concern was how spas reuse the same fish on many customers—a practice they’re forced to do because garra rufa fish are pricey.
The spa worker said that the water is purified using chemical and biological filters, which recycle the water in the aquarium more than 3 times per hour. For the removal of the water bacteria they use a special filter with UV radiation which eliminates 99.9% of the bacteria. And the fact is that no one has produced evidence of the spread of disease. To be honest, I was unaware of the health risks when my husband and I pulled into a store and gave it a try. We really enjoyed it.
Also check out the Top 10 Best Santorini Beaches
How many of you have had a fish spa pedicure? How many of you would be willing to try it?
Emiko
November 4, 2014 at 10:55 pmI saw these all over Thailand and Cambodia, but I never could get myself to try one! However, after seeing how clean the one you went to in Greece look, I MIGHT give it a chance. Might:)
Carmen
November 5, 2014 at 9:34 pmHi Emiko, My friends tried it in Thailand last year and really enjoyed it. My husband and I were walking along a street and saw the sign that caught our attention “Nice to Kiss You”. The tanks looked very clean and we saw a few people doing it. So I told my husband about it, and asked if he was up for it and he said yes.
Anda
November 5, 2014 at 6:21 amYour post is very interesting. I’ve never even heard of this kind of pedicure before, leave alone try it. It must have been quite an experience. Question is, did the fish do a good job? Or you steel needed the help of traditional instruments to finalize your pedicure.
Carmen
November 5, 2014 at 9:38 pmHi Anda, We only did a 10 minute spa treatment. In order to really see the results I think the spa said we needed at least a 30 minute treatment. I thought that 10 minutes was plenty of time. I’m not sure I would of been able to last for a 30 minutes one.
Justin Givens
November 10, 2014 at 3:10 amWow. Just wow. I cannot believe this exist and you tried it! CRAZY!!!
Carmen
November 12, 2014 at 11:47 pmThanks Justin, It was quite the experience.
Fairlie
November 14, 2014 at 6:25 amI’ve tried these fish spas a couple of times – once in Langkawi and again in the Changi Airport terminal building. It is such a bizarre experience.
Carmen
November 14, 2014 at 11:02 amHi Fairlie,
It is a bizarre experience, and hard to describe to others when they ask you about it. It tickled a little, and I’m glad I got to experience it at least once in my life. I’m not sure I would do it again.
Michele {Malaysian Meanders}
November 14, 2014 at 7:00 amMy friends and I did a fish spa pedicure in Malaysia. We started in a tank with small fish like the ones in your picture. Then, we graduated to medium fish. We stuck with just doing our feet, but the medium fish were in a bathtub where you could get in and immerse your body up to your shoulders. Yikes! Finally, we dunked our feet in a tub with large fish about the size of bratwurst. I almost screamed when they started scraping away. It felt like someone lightly running their fingernails across your feet. Once was enough.
Carmen
November 14, 2014 at 10:59 amHi Michele,
I agree once was enough for me too. I can’t even imagine submerging my body into a bathtub to have fish pick away at my skin throughout my body, no way. You were brave to try the better fish.
Shaun
November 14, 2014 at 5:25 pmEeep.
I have yet to brave one of these. I feel like they would need bigger fish for my beat up feet!
Shaun
http://www.thislifeintrips.com
Carmen
November 15, 2014 at 1:29 amHi Shaun,
I hear they have larger fish in some countries, although I’m not sure I would put my feet in tanks with these larger fish. The little fish was quite effective on my feet.
kay dougherty
November 16, 2014 at 4:02 amMy sister and I were in Thailand last year and we each had a fish pedicure. We giggled the whole time but those fish ate a couple years off my feet and I get regular pedicures! I’d heard about the supposed health risks but of all the stupid things I do this seemed like a very small one to add. I’d do it again in a heartbeat but they don’t have them on Marco Island!
Carmen
November 16, 2014 at 10:26 pmHi Kay,
It was nice meeting you both at #TBEX. I’ve probably try it again if I had the opportunity. We only put our feet in for 10 minutes, which I’m sure didn’t make much of a difference. I haven’t seen the fish pedicures anywhere in Florida.
Mark and Kate @ vagrantsoftheworld
November 16, 2014 at 4:39 pmSeen these all over asia, not for us it is all a liitle icky. But well done on putting your best feet forward in the name of true travel blogging.
Carmen
November 16, 2014 at 10:29 pmHi Mark & Kate,
We tried it because the tanks looked very clean and we were curious about it. I’m not sure how often they clean the tanks in Asia, but my guess is they don’t.
Matilda
December 3, 2014 at 12:35 amI’ve always wanted to try a fish pedicure. Did not realize it was being offered in Greece-thought it was mostly offered in Asia. I visit Greece every few years so will keep it in mind for my next visit.
Chloe Logan
April 12, 2015 at 10:49 pmI’ve always wanted one of these! While the health risks do concern me, I think I’d trust it as long as the spa were clean and professional.
Chloe | Wanderlust in the Midwest
Carmen
April 13, 2015 at 12:08 amHi Chloe,
The spa we went to was very clean. We only did it for 15 minutes, they wanted us to do 30 minutes and I said “No” because it was our first time.
Francis Bangayan
March 10, 2019 at 7:23 amThis is so amazing! I can’t wait to try the fish pedicure for me. I think I can try it for 15 min. at least. Love the sharing. Thanks and keep it up!
Francis Bangayan recently posted…How to make female betta produce eggs?
Carmen Edelson
March 13, 2019 at 6:08 pmIt’s certainly a fun experience!
Lia
September 3, 2019 at 4:06 amNever tried it before! Never had the courage!
Carmen Edelson
September 6, 2019 at 2:28 pmOne day maybe!
Mellisa
December 17, 2019 at 7:16 amFish tank pedicure! I know about this for first time through post. I think, I can try, It must have fun. Thanks for sharing.
Carmen Edelson
December 30, 2019 at 11:53 amIt’s so much fun!
Marina
January 24, 2020 at 4:59 amYou’re so brave!
Marina recently posted…How Often Should You Get A Pedicure?
Emmy
February 15, 2020 at 5:12 pmWow! Maybe I’ll try this out soon
Emmy recently posted…Best foot Massagers: Top Electric, Shiatsu and Manual
Carmen Edelson
February 22, 2020 at 4:24 pmI hope you enjoy the experience, Emmy!
Alex Sendroz
June 18, 2020 at 6:43 amYeah, fish spa is good and the fishes which can be bought directly from underwater of the sea. Nice blog. Keep sharing!
Carmen Edelson
June 22, 2020 at 6:16 pmYes, it’s a fun experience! And thank you 🙂
Anitha
August 20, 2020 at 6:48 amI have done fish pedicure many times its really good for health great to see your experience about it on your blog.
Anitha recently posted…10 Best Mini Rice Cooker of 2020: Buyer’s Guide
Carmen Edelson
August 22, 2020 at 4:55 pmI totally agree!