The Untold Truth Of Fish Spa Pedicures

If after all this you're still interested in trying a fish spa pedicure, you may have to travel to do it. While the risks and benefits of the treatment are still being debated, the CDC explains that each state controls their own regulations about fish spa pedicures, and at least ten of them have banned the practice outright. Interestingly, this isn't just because of the potential health concerns for patrons or the welfare concerns for the fish, though the CDC notes those are also considerations. 

Because the Garra rufa fish are not native to the United States, but rather native to Turkey, Jordan, Iran, and other parts of Eurasia, they pose a risk to wildlife ecosystems. According to a 2012 report from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, while no evidence had been found at that time that the fish had been introduced into American ecosystems, the size and diet of the fish mean they could be in competition with native wildlife should they be introduced. 

This means if the fish were to get into the water (intentionally or unintentionally), they might take away the food sources of other fish, disrupting the ecosystem balance. Worth it for a pedicure? Not according to the states where they're banned.