Tip: Avoid the Piranha Special
According to CNN, the hottest new spa treatment in the Washington, DC area is fish pedicures, where tiny, toothless carp nibble away all your dead skin, for the nom-nom-nominal fee of $35. According to customers, the treatment produces just a tingling sensation: "It kind of feels like your foot's asleep," says one. It's all happening at Yvonne Hair and Nails salon, where the elite meet to become a fishy treat.
You first, Angelina R.
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I would try it.
I'd do it.
My sis is considering going for one of these, as she works in DC. Dunno if I could do it though--I feel bad for the little guys (even though they're perfectly happy).
that is right by my house i think i am going to get one!
saw this in the news. would i try it? maybe...
About 15 years ago the fish in the capitol reflecting pool (on the Mall side of the capitol) did this for free. (As soon as I noticed, I pulled my feet out. Ew.)
Zomg the nom-ulence!
Just when you think you've heard everything...
W A N T
I would not pay $35 to let a fish that had nommed the dead skin off someone else's feet nom the dead skin off of mine. Just sayin'.
This is not cute or funny. The fish end up dying from the heat of the water and get thrown out like they are scraps. It's sad.
I'd be too scared I'd squish one. And it's kinda gross, but if the fishees are happy...
That. is. dis. gus. ting.
And cruel.
Not cute.
Hate to be a nuffer, but...NGAH NO DEAR GOD NO.
This gives new perspective on sleeping with the fishes. Nibble Nibble Chomp.
How do they know they are toothless???? teeny tiny fish dentists?
teehee I would totally do this.
Ugh. Not to mention that what goes in, must come out. In the water your feet are in.
Hooray for the obscure "Life in Hell" reference!
ew, what if there were dead ones in there? this doesn't sound appealing or sanitary.
If anyone watches "I survived a Japanese Game Show," the winners of a challenged received this as a reward a few weeks ago. That was the first I have ever heard of it! I guess it is fairly common in Asia, though.
not cute. does not belong here!
I remember swimming in the river as a kid. IF you sat very still the minnows would swim over and nibble on you. I always thought they had no time sense and since you had apparently ALWAYS been there, they were checking to see if any yummy algae had grown on you yet. Apparently I was just ahead of my time!
Amy you do realise we are swiming in feces .. They are everywhere.... you probably ingest more every day than get on your feet in this water.
Woot! Holy "Life in Hell" reference, NTMTOM!
How is this more cruel than keeping fish in a fishtank at home?
What, did you think the owners held a tiny, fish-size gun to their heads and made them do it?
Hmmm, eeeenteresting. Not sure I would pay $35 for it though. Do the fishies paint your nails too?
so they nom the ucky dead skin off your feet all the time pooping other peoples yukky dead skin that they had previously nommed into the water that your feet are in getting nommed on.
Nuff said. I'd rather let my dog lick my feet...
and so on.
For the folks that think that this is cruel... well these fish are doing what they do instinctively. Carp (a.k.a. goldfish) eat the icky scraps of nastiness that other critters leave behind in the water. They are cleaners and bottom feeders, and very hardy animals that can withstand lots of extremes in temperature and habitat. If Yvonne Hair and Nails salon is making money off these little guys, I don't think that it's by killing them... why would they want to "strangle their golden carp?"
They're also used as bait and feed for larger fishies, so for those who want to make a fuss, you might be better off protesting at your local tackle shop...jeez!
I don't know what to say about this...Yes I do!
I wigs me out!
Yeah... I thought this was CuteOverload, not DisgustingOverload. EEWWWW!
Disgusting.
You've got to be kidding. No way am I letting little fish nibble on my feet. And I can think of lots of better ways to lose $35.00.
LOL @ Elsa!!
I think it'd be a toothpick harpoon!
What the fish do is a bit gross but they are soooo cute! Just look at their beady eyes and pouty little mouths. Adorable. ^_^
This is not a really new idea.
This is used as a treatment for psoriasis for some years now. The fish nibble away the dead skin, not touching the alive parts near and below the dead psoriasis skin.
Do they give a discount if you come out of the water with only nine digits from overzealous nomming?
I want to see the tiny fish dentists certifying their chomperless little mouths!
How do you know they are in "hot" spa water versus cool water? How do you know they die? Did you research it? What's the link? Don't nuff unless you know.
Oohgh... I saw this in "draft" and wondered if it was actually going to get posted, and, well, here it is. Ergkk. What do you SAY to something like this? *IS* there anything else "like" this? Bleen??
I used to stick my feet in our friend's goldfish pond when i was a kid and the fish would nibble my toes! It feels ticklish in a good way.
Apparently it doesn't work very well... but I love the thought of each and every fish in that picture having a NOM beside it. <3 Nom nom nom...
Wonder if it tickles?
Weird shock of recognition... this was on the radio here this morning.
Ummm maybe I would try this? I don't really know??
Theo would you try this??
[Not in a spa, no. I have, however, experienced this in a stream with minnows. Yes, it tickles a little. Makes the kids giggle, too, which is priceless... - Ed.]
They've been doing this for years in Asia. And you thought those koi ponds were just decorative...
Feesh will nibble on you in many lakes and rivers. It does tickle like crazy.
My dad has a pond in his back yard. Bubba the Koi is about a foot long - I do not see putting my feet in there to have him nom on them!!!! YIPE!
Human feet are not cute though. Especially with nasty dead skin.
+1 to all who picked up the "Ackbar and Jeff" homage, but I'm surprised that nobody's gotten the "Finding Nemo" reference yet.
That would probably tickle a ton! Reminds me of being a kid and hanging my feet off the dock on the lake:)
Other Mike -- I caught the Shark Anon bit, but not the Ackbar & Jeff ref.
I immediately got the FISH ARE FRIENDS NOT FOOD!!!!
Oh, and "+1" is Slashdot.
;)