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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

fish pedicures

79 replies

blowthewindsoutherly · 05/08/2011 23:51

Why am I so repulsed by this? I mean, do they change the water in the tank between victims customers?

Am I the only person who isn't that excited by the idea of a live creature eating my dead skin?

OP posts:

ledkr · 06/08/2011 09:03

I couldnt do it im scared of fish,only go in the sea on a lilo My heel are so bad tho it would need atank of piranna to get the skin off.

LadyGrace · 06/08/2011 10:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AmberLeaf · 06/08/2011 10:52

How much are they?

PiousPrat · 06/08/2011 11:03

PassTheTwiglets quite right about fishes memory. I have a tank of tropicals with quite a mix in there, including the infamously stupid guppy. They all got used to me feeding them as soon as I turned the tank light on in the morning. They associated the overhead light going on and the sound of the lid being lifted with food so would swarm to the top. I was curious, so started always dropping the food in at one point of the tank. Sure enough after a couple of weeks they would all swarm to that spot in the tank.

Fast forward 2 months and I have a timer for the lights from when my Mum has fed them when I am away but hasn't been there at 9 am and pm to turn the lights on and off. They still swarm the second the light clicks in. It is quite fun to watch them go about their business at 8:59am then as soon as the light goes on they all make a mad dash to the filter tower corner. If i am in the room at the time, I feed them straight away but often I don't go in the living room after seeing the kids off to school until 10am or later, so they don't get the constant reinforcement of behaviour and reward, just the past knowledge of it and occasional upkeep means they still do it.

Step aside Pavlov's dog, now we have Pious and Twiglet's fish

AmberLeaf · 06/08/2011 11:09

I agree, they do have better memories than they are given credit for, mine would always swim up if I lifted the lid to feed them.

Not got them anymore

bubblesincoffee · 06/08/2011 11:20

AmberLeaf - it doesn't tickle. Well, maybe it does a little but I'm very ticklish and had to be forced into having a go, and I thought it was ok.

The only way I can think of to describe how it feels is by saying its a bit like when you have pins and needles, you know when the circulation has been temporarily cut off in your feet and then the blodd rushes back. But mildly.

I'd love to hear other peoples descriptions of the sensation.

I'm with BluddyMoFlo - when you have been diving and had a wrasse decide it wants to go in your ear for his dinner, or one starts nibbling in between your fingers if you hold your hand out for 5 seconds, fish pedicures don't seem so bad.

learningtofly · 06/08/2011 11:30

Yanbu exploitation of the fish in pursuit of a treat.

MrsBaggins · 06/08/2011 12:38

BluddyMoFo You have just reminded me why I dont go swimming

It is rank -just use a footfile !

EauRouge · 06/08/2011 12:54

iacuc.al.umces.edu/zoonotic-diseases.html

All the fish geeks keepers I know are perplexed by this trend. Cruelty aside, why anyone would willingly let fish that have not been given optimum care (and therefore have compromised immune systems) nibble on them is completely beyond me. I know someone that caught mycobacterium (AKA fish TB) from his fish, it's no fun. Most of the fish keepers I know use gloves to clean out their fish and then scrub like buggery with antibacterial soap and hot water afterwards.

inchoccyheaven · 06/08/2011 13:08

My mum and I had a fish pedicure for the first time yesterday and bubbles you are right about the pins and needles kind of feeling It was the weirdest feeling ever and I wasn't sure if I liked it to start with but would do it again as I still have hard skin that needs munching on. The woman said she feeds them in the evenings.

It cost £10 for 15 mins or £20 for 35 mins. We had to wash feet first and sign form to say we didn't have any open wounds, infections, fake tan etc etc

kittensliveupstairs · 06/08/2011 13:17

I can't see the attraction personally, but I am terrified of fish. I can't help feeling sorry for the fish. One day they are swimming around free, eating what they fancy and what suits them best, the next they are in a plastic washing up bowl chomping on corns. Poor little fishies.

MrBloomsNursery · 06/08/2011 13:26

We have TWO of these companies who have a permanent place in the only 2 shopping centres in our city. I CRINGE everytime I walk past. Fish eating foot skin in public view for all to see - surely that is animal abuse? I once saw a woman with yellow heals and toenails dip her feet in there.... Eurgh....

Birdsgottafly · 06/08/2011 13:30

I was sea fishing recently, the DC's were playing in the rock pools. I gave them a small sand eel to throw into it. Within seconds three crabs that you wouldn't know where there, latched on to it, feeding. The small fish swam up, taking advantage that they were busy and ate the eels face, the biggest one then ate the smallest one.

Its dog eat dog in the fish world, not finding Nemo.

MrBloomsNursery · 06/08/2011 13:43

Finding Nemo was actually pretty "dog eat dog". First Nemo's Mum got killed, then Marlin was chased by a shark, then Marlin and Dori were stung by stingrays, then Darla Shermen was a fish killer, then Nemo nearly got killed in the filter, and Gill had that faulty finn. I think they portrayed the fish world pretty well in Finding Nemo . But there was not any human foot skin being devoured in the movie, which is WRONG.

Morloth · 06/08/2011 14:02

People really do some weird shit don't they?

Still, on balance it makes slightly more sense then having a deadly toxin injected into your face.

Padda · 18/10/2011 09:59

Fish pedicures vary a lot. One I have been to they wash your feet before and give you a minty foot massage after, another they just dunk your feet in!

The fish nibble away and although it tickles at first the sensation for me is more like pins and needles, which stops when you get out.

I think they're good fun if you can get a special offer but their claims about feeling like walking on air after are a bit far fetched. I can't see it would be anything other than a bit of fun.

MorelliOrRanger · 18/10/2011 10:12

Well after today's news it looks like Carrie was right :)

wineandcheese · 18/10/2011 10:13

Health Protection Agency warns against fish foot spas

Bleeeeeee

Cezzy · 18/10/2011 12:06

The thought of them all nibbling around my feet turns my stomach! I think I would scream and stamp and then squash them, besides, the state of my feet it would cruel to inflict on a poor defenceless creature (except DH). We are going swimming with fish etc on holidays and I'm not sure how I will feel about that!

allhailtheaubergine · 18/10/2011 12:35

I'm not convinced about the idea they are starving the fish and forcing them to display unnatural behaviour. Here in Oman, Dr Fish live wild in many of our hot springs and sink holes and I often spend a relaxing morning sitting on a boulder in the shade while free, wild, happy little fishies swarm around my feet giving me a nice free pedicure while my children splash and swim about nearby.

MumblingAndBloodyRagDoll · 18/10/2011 12:52

Hasn't anyone seen the news today? Sorry if it's been mentioned but the British health authority are warning that there is a VERY small chanc of these pedicures passing on HIV and Hep C.

They admit the chance is small but say that ANY risk is too much of a risk.

MumblingAndBloodyRagDoll · 18/10/2011 12:53

Oh wind has done a link already! Sorry!

TandB · 18/10/2011 12:56

Yes, I heard that on the radio and did think it a bit odd. Risk of HIV and Hep C, but hey it's only a little risk. I think this might spell the end of this particular trend!

bishboschone · 18/10/2011 13:47

Me and dh have been saying this since the start.. It's so unhygienic

SuePurblybiltFromBitsofCorpses · 18/10/2011 13:52

It is all sorts of wrong.

My local outlet village has the tanks in and advertises 'kid's party pedicures'. What the actual fishing fuck?

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