February 25, 2009

Florida is the latest state to have banned fish pedicures, a trendy spa treatment that allows tiny fish to nibble the dead skin off patrons' feet. (ZT Pet News Photo by Kris O'Donnell)

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Though a novelty to some spa goers, others, including the Florida Board of Cosmetology, consider fish pedicures unhygienic.

The Board announced a ban on the practice early this week, placing Florida on a growing list of states that have rejected the spa procedure.

The treatment utilizes toothless fish that are placed into a tank to feed on a customer's dead skin. The removal of dead layers of skin is thought to allow healthy skin to grow.

The trend gained traction over the summer, but was later denounced -- and banned -- by Washington, Texas, Massachusetts and New Hampshire last year.

According to Alexis Antonacci, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the board found that fish pedicures violate two laws, The Orlando Sentinel reports.

One rule prohibits animals in salons, save assistance or service pets. The imported fish -- commonly garra rufas, which originally come from Turkey -- could also not ensure a required level of sanitation.

If Florida salons are found administering fish pedicures they could be subject to citations and fines, the Florida Board of Cosmetology said in a press release issued Friday, Feb. 20.

Washington took a similar issue with the practice in

November, when it instituted a similar ban, as Zootoo Pet News previously reported.

"From our view, under state law, it says that all tools used in pedicures must be sanitized, disinfected or disposed of after each use between customers to prevent the spread of disease and infections," said Christine Anthony, the spokeswoman for Washington's Department of Licensing.

"We felt the fish were being used as tools and there was no way to sanitize them. You can change the water in an aquarium, but you can't clean the fish."

Texas banned the practice that same month, even before it had documented any salons offering the treatment. Nevertheless, it still felt the need to take preemptive action.

"There was a question about cleaning of the tanks and concern with the chemicals that were being used," said public information officer Susan Stanford, of the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. "Plus, fish shouldn't be living in hot, chlorinated water. There was a concern for patrons, too, and a risk of infection or bacteria."

A few curious patrons in Florida, however, initially appeared undisturbed about sanitation as they indulged in the treatment.

David Hoang, owner of the Nailz Spa in Sanford, Fla., told Zootoo Pet News in September that his clients rave about fish pedicures.

"They come back and they just love it and they thank me for bringing it to the local area," Hoang said.

At The Spa in Orlando, Fla., one client, Arturo Diaz, said he felt refreshed after receiving the treatment.

"It feels, at the beginning, very ticklish but then it kind of eases up and feels kind of therapeutic," Diaz recalled to Zootoo. "It really feels relaxing."

Therapeutic or not, fish pedicure-lovers will now have to look elsewhere for the treatments, which in most Florida spas cost around $40.

To watch the Zootoo Pet News' original video story on fish pedicures, click here: www.zootoo.com" title="Fish">Pampered Fish Love Pedicures

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Zootoo Pet News reporters Amy Lieberman and Kris O'Donnell, The Associated Press and The Orlando Sentinel contributed to this article.