Fishy Business

I’m happy to report yesterday the day ended better than it began.

Of course, that didn’t take much!

Today I’m all atwitter about a spa service.

Now, I wasn’t a big fan of the idea of colon cleanses because for most people a cup of coffee will do the trick without having to go to a salon.  But here’s an idea that goes even further down the specialty aisle:

Carp Pedicures.

Yes.  You can pay a pretty penny to put your toes in warm water and let toothless fish nibble on your dead skin and callouses.

Really?!  Really?!  People do this voluntarily?

I am having flashbacks of swimming in the creek as a little kid and scrambling out when we saw a fish!

Or even a vision of the small piranhas I fished for on the Amazon River.  They were tiny but vicious and there’s not a chance I wanted any nibbling on my feet.

Apparently carp cleansing has been around in Asia for centuries and has moved West, along with acupuncture and qigong.

I wish it had stayed there.  The whole idea is too freaky for me.

I’m not the only one with concerns – it seems 14 states have banned carp pedicures over health concerns.  Shocking but true, the carp don’t clean their lips between clients and it’s possible to spread disease!

Say it with me, “Ewww!!!”

According to this article, “the hot water in which the fish thrive doesn’t support much plant or aquatic life, so they learned to feed on whatever food sources were available — including dead, flaking skin. They leave live skin alone because, without teeth, they can’t bite it off.”

With those friendly, yucky thoughts, please enjoy your Sunday evening.

And keep your feet away from the fish.  Or maybe just your fish away from my feet.

What’s the most unusual spa service you’ve ever seen offered?