Understanding Spa Fish

Garra Rufa Spa Fish

GARRA RUFA

Scientific name: Garra rufa (Heckel, 1843)
Family: Cyprinidae (Carps)
Size: Up to 15cm/5", according to museum records, but usually around 10cm/4".
Origin: A non-migratory freshwater fish found in rivers through much of Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Turkey and

Syria

. There are also unconfirmed reports of the species in Oman and Saudi Arabia, but these aren't considered compatible with the distributional range of the species.
Habitat: According to Krupp and Schneider, most Garra rufa are found in small muddy streams, rivers and lakes. However, the fish is also found in hot pools and locals bathe there in an attempt to get the fish to remove scales from their skin caused by a range of dermatological conditions.
Water: Temperatures in the natural habitat are said to range from 15-28C. In hot pools, the fish is said to live at a temperature around the 37C mark.

Please take note of the location of their mouth.

Scientifically proven by many well known universities for its supernatural ability to cure skin problems. More than 100 years of saving many from skin problems. It appears more than a decade ago and never intend for exporting. Due to a great research white paper done by Austria Medical University (one of the largest medical research university in the world) and published by Oxford University Press, it became popular overnight. Helps to relax mind while nibbling, the process also alleviates beautification and smoothness to our skins. Largest it can grow is only about 6cm - 8cm. It will never cause pain, cause it is always a toothless fish. It is a toothless fish and the nibbling process is meant for any part of our body. It will NEVER cause any unnecessary pain even the adult fish is use. This fish nibble, the suction power does not allow the fish to take off any of our healthy skin, but just the flaky old and dead cells can be remove by this fish.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!




The Fakes

Most common fake spa fish is Chin Chin which is
passed off as Garra Rufa.

Chin Chin Available In Two Colors
( Blakish Silver & Orange)

Gained unscrupulous popularity by claiming as Garra Rufa or Doctor Fish to the unknowledgeable market.

When the Japanese started the first fish spa in Asia using the only real and original Garra Rufa from Turkey. Apparently, Chinese see this a big market and great opportunity for fish spa business across China. However to start fish spa with Garra Rufa, they are dealing with high price and low supply. So, they trained a new fish just for the sake of attacking our skin and call it as Doctor Fish.

It is useless when it reaches about 6cm, the sharp teeth are growing and it could be dangerous. So, Fish spa owner are usually advised to replace with smaller ones. Normally every 4 to 5 months or earlier as the Chin Chin are cannibal fish and eats each other. ( They attack and eat one another )

This fish is more into peeling and not nibbling, that could cause unnecessary pain for our body unless baby fish is use. This fish peel, which means it will peel off our skins be it a healthy cells or dead cells. It just eat everything.

The unscrupulous Chin Chin .

Recently, the healing properties of Garra rufa has been abused by unscrupulous businesses looking to deceive the public and cash-in on the hype. A quick search on the internet will show up a number of online hits claiming to be suppliers of “Garra rufa” especially from China. However, upon close observation, these fish end up being nothing like the real Garra rufa itself!

Most of what is on offer, seems to be juvenile Oreochromis niloticus (or hybrids of). Oreochromis niloticus is commonly known as common Tilapia in Malaysia! As hungry juvenile tilapia, this fish would swim in large numbers and would be bold enough to nibble on the arms and feet of people. However, no healing properties have ever been recorded from this species of fish nibbling on skin.

Tilapia originates from Africa. This fish had been introduced into many country as food fish around 1943-1945 by the Japanese. They are now very common in our drainage and rivers and has caused much ecological damage to native fish.

Please do take note on their mouth location!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


With Chin Chin its cheap and easier to start a fish spa.
Of course there are some fish spa owner who were cheated
as they do not know the real Garra Rufa and in the
same sense there are lots of Spa's who known about it,
and still cheat as customer do not know 
Garra Rufa. However now customers are more informed.



Using of Chin Chin will tarnish the name and fish spa
industry for its non-effective therapy.