I am a fish spa entusiast and recently i got to know something fishy in fish spa business. I have some experienced i would like to share with all here. 2 months ago, i bought some spa fish back at home to do it on my hands and legs. I have some skin problems. Perhaps, at that time i was so excited that i could purchase the Garra rufa at last and doing it all day and night hoping to let the fish nibble it off and cure me. After trying several times, i have doubt why my skin problems cannot be cured. I was wondering is my problem cannot be cure by the fish, so i decided not to care so much and keep on trying it until i read a paper on The Star one fine day saying the differences of Chin Chin and Garra Rufa by a fish spa in town which stated many unethical fish spa owners is using chin chin instead of Garra Rufa, so i put more studies on this. To my surprise, the fish i bought month ago at my home is the Chin Chin and i am so devastated and angered of being conned by this aquarium company which they told me is garra rufa at the price of RM 4.50 per fish at that time. I bought about 200 fishes at that time cause is cheap most importantly thinking it could help me.

After that i decided to visit this spa which publish the differences of Garra Rufa & Chin Chin which they claims they are using the real garra rufa. To my surprise, i found out the price of this spa is indeed higher than any other fish spa in town. I am quite reluctant at first but i tried alas. After trying it at this Fish Spa for my whole body, i love it so much. So, i went there again, ended up i went there for 3 times in a week. Importantly, i found that the fish at this fish spa is indeed so much different than what i own at home. And I can see a great improvement to my skin problems after the 3rd visits. I am so delighted that now i know what is the real and the fakes and even bought a package there too. If i have a choice i rather buy the fish to put it at my home but i found out the real Garra rufa can easily cost me about RM 45 a fish. No way, so better buy package will do. Ha Ha

I am not critisizing or crediting any party, but i believe these fish spas owners that are using chin chin now should think about if it is really can help people like me. Seriously, i really thought the fish i bought earlier is the Garra rufa but ended up is the Chin Chin. I swear i know how to differentiate this fish now. No way Chin Chin can con me anymore. Alios

This claim that Garra Rufa when nibble on your skin, the fish exude a unique enzyme called dithranol (anthralin) which prevents fast development of cells from the skin, thereby alleviating Psoriasis. This is not true for dithranol is Syntactic. ????????? Go figure out how a fish Garra Rufa can produce some thing syntactic ???????????

2. The China Dr.Fish call it Tilapia etc etc etc. This fish also can nibble and remove dead skin hence the result is the same. (BOTH THE GARRA RUFA DR.FISH AND THE CHINA DR.FISH DO THE SAME THING ie REMOVE DEAD SKIN)

The Only difference is that the Garra Rufa is gentel and the China Dr.Fish is aggrasive. The claim that the Garra Rufa only can produce result ( because when in Turkey in the hot spring the garra rufa nibbles and relives and helps is rubbish for actually its the sulphur and other minerals in the hot spring that helps and the Dr.Fish is only an assisting medium to remove the dead skin. it works the same on both the fishes.

The china Dr.Fish can also live under temperatures of around 35 to 38 and they can do the same job.

Yes the China Dr. Fish can go big and agressive. they dont hurt you. You only bleed or get hurt if you have any cuts, wounds or problems with your skin and dip your feet in.

Bottom line

1. Garra Rufa Only Good For People with Skin Issues. They are gentel and normal people will have no feeling or effect from them for they are too gentel.

2. China Dr. Fish ( So called Tilapia) are best for people with normal skin and not for people with problem skin. The China Dr.Fish is Aggressive and will remove dead skin cells, provide micro massage etc

Note

Lots of SPA and Outlets in US and Europe are importing the China Dr. Fish for this China Dr.Fish is for normal people with normal skin.

The few fish spa in Malaysia using Garra Rufa well sorry to say that your system is wrong for you have the right fish for people with skin problems but not the right system. Garra rufas are use as treatments and not menicure & pedicure. Thats why Garra Rufa is expensive. And thats why for a 15 min treatment with garra gufa in europe they charge 75euros. You should be charging RM350.00 for an hr full body private room. Normal people dont use Garra Ruffa for normal people to do menicure & pedicure. its not economical and who wants to pay that much if you dont have skin problems.

HAVE a good day and enjoy the fish spa

If you bleed or get a wound after treatment with China Dr. Fish then you either had some bruises, cuts or wounds before you did the treatment, for even kids as young as 5yrs do the treatment and dont get hurt. Go figure

GARRA RUFA FOR PROBLEMATIC SKIN & CHINA Dr. FISH FOR NORMAL PEOPLE WITH NORMAL SKIN

Hybrid Garra Rufa, is that what they call fakes these days? haha….saw some advertisement on the net from sellers of Chin Chin, they call them Hybrid now instead of Garra Rufa. Hope everyone knows that they are actually selling Chin Chin and no way is Chin Chin a hybrid of Garra Rufa! Its two completely different species of fishes. Buyers should beware of creative marketing and know what you are paying for!!

For those who are interested in keeping Garra Rufa or starting a fish spa, it would be wise for you to educate yourself on which is the real Garra Rufa. Many are still confused with the large number of fishes in the market and even experts are sometimes conned into buying fakes! If you want the “REAL” DR FISH then there is only “ONE” genuine DR FISH and thats GARRA RUFA! Many people are passing the other species of Garras as Garra Rufa, so you may ask, how do I differentiate them? well click this link and find out

http://www.loaches.com/species-index/pictorial-species-search-index/garra-species

For those of you who think “Chin Chin” is the Dr Fish, I suggest that you need glasses!!

I think its important that Fisho makes it clear about what type of fish they use. Because when it comes to fish spa & therapy, people naturally assume that its those type from Turkey (Garra Rufa), popular for the belief that they are able to soothe the symptoms of dermatitis. So if Fisho doesnt correct this assumption, they are not being honest with the customers. What about those customers with skin problems who go to the spas expecting the therapeutic effect (ie. in Turkey)?? If Fisho advertise their spas as…. ‘fish spas for fun and amusement, zero therapeutic effect’, then I guess its not important what kind of fish they are using. BUT PLEASE, straighten this matter!

Unfortunately, I went to one of the Fisho spas and the lady claimed that ‘its good for skin problems’.

which spa did you visit? would like to go there to have a look and find out what’s the different between the two fishes (since both are there for comparison)…

i did went to Kenko few months back. i have no idea what kind of fish they are using. therapeutic purpose? ermm…well, no idea. fun and worthwhile experience..yeah!