[robertprice]

The more you read about Garra rufa skin therapy, the more you question just how much Neanderthal blood the Eurasian population has. International spas have adds with people almost covered by the little slime suckers (who by the way, do almost the same thing as plecos do to other fish). Now ads are popping up saying that they secrete this wonderful enzyme diathanol. Trouble is, diathanol is a scam creation of the cosmetics and skin care industries, and has never been scientifically isolated. Also, Garra rufa have no salivary glands. So, these weird little carp are basically doing what a callus remover does at 10 times the price, and they are vomiting on you while they do it! They also poop in the water and carry streptocoocus B. Most Garra rufa are starved before they are let loose on their customers at $50 for 30 minutes.

15 States have now made Garra rufa treatment illegal, primarily because they have to be disposable after one use. Hopefully, New York, which is considering legislation will follow suit. Commonly called Red Log Suckers, they do make good aquarium fish though.