Flesh-Eating Fish Pedicures May Be Banned Under New York Bill as Inhumane

A customer receives a fish pedicure with her feet submerged in a tank filled with Garra Rufa fish removing any dead skin. Photographer: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Using live fish to eat away dead skin in pedicures would be banned in New York State for health and humane reasons under a proposed bill.

The procedure, which developed in Turkey as a way to treat skin ailments including psoriasis, involves feet being dunked in a tank of water filled with one of two types of small, dark fish. The hungry creatures nibble off the dead skin while leaving healthy epidermis alone.

Fish pedicures are illegal in at least 14 states, according to state Senator Jeff Klein of the Bronx and Westchester, who proposed the bill. The bans cite the concern that health conditions led by fungal infections may be transmitted by unsanitized fish in dirty water. Animal-rights groups are pushing for outlawing the procedure because it is inhumane to the fish.

“I do not recommend it to anyone who has any diabetes or any immuno-compromised condition such as AIDS or cancer, because of the risk of infection,” said Robin Ross, president of the New York State Podiatric Medical Association, in a telephone interview yesterday. “The fish are defecating and urinating in that water and you’re sticking your feet in it.”

New York’s Department of State isn’t aware that any of 26,345 licensed nail salons within the state offer the practice, said spokesman Joel Barkin in an e-mail. The practice is being done in the backrooms of New York City, Klein said when he first proposed the ban in October.

The bill has yet to be voted on, according to Gwen Rocco, a spokeswoman for the senator.

Chin Chin

While Garra rufa fish, also called doctor fish, were first used in the procedure, another type called chin chin have grown in popularity because they are less expensive.

John Ho, who claimed to be the first to bring the pedicures to the U.S., said there has never been a health incident with any of his customers. He runs three salons that offer the service in the Virginia cities of Alexandria, Woodbridge, and Crystal City.

“States ban fish pedicures because they don’t have much information,” Ho said in a telephone interview. His salons offer 15 minutes of immersion in the fish tank, in addition to a traditional pedicure, for $45. He said his lawyers are drawing up documents to franchise the business by the end of the year.

Pedicure and manicure customers, who are 96 percent female, spent $6.16 billion on nail services in 2007, according to Nails Magazine research.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is pushing for the end of the procedure because it is cruel, said Kristin Dejournet, a Memphis-based worker for the Norfolk, Virginia- based animal-rights group. The animals can feel fear and pain, she said.

“Fish are still very misunderstood,” said Dejournet. “Changing the water would need to be done quickly in the interest of the customers, but in the interest of the fish, there’s just no way to do it without the fish thinking, Oh my God, what’s happening? Is my pond drying up?” she said. “It’s not natural.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Arielle Fridson in New York at afridson@bloomberg.net.