Garra Rufa

[j47n3]

new to this forum thing but not to fish keeping as had tropical tank at home for many years my concern is with the recent addition at the salon i work at of garra rufa fish. the poor girl that set up was basically ill advised by the company she bought the tanks from. they left no info for the filters she was just told they were 4 stage filters with a uv filter built in. on the face of it theres nothing wrong with the syetem but she was told to leave the filters running a week then itroduce the fish which they sold her in a batch of 200! needless to say everything seemed ok but then amonia levels peaked and there were severe casualties. asked my husband whos advised starting again with R O water and introducing fish a couple at a time also adding some plants and bogwood and pebbles so they have a more natural environment and is unsure she'll be able to have the level of fish required for the pedicure. obviously most people on here will probably be against the use of fish this way but all im interested in is the fishes welfare as the tank will be set up again regardless of our advise so would like her to do it in as safer way possible for the fish. think youd find most places that run the tanks want the fish to survive but most havent got people to help or adise of the upkeep and lik us are left i the lurch by bad suppliers

 

[twodoctors]

You can do fishless cycling like most people would advise. Google it and see. Not sure of the feasibility of RO water as I guess you need to change water quite often for hygiene reason if nothing else. Made me laugh when you mentioned plants and bogwood... can't imagine seeing that happening! He's a man (and so am I) but he is more clueless than I am regarding this!

Adrian

 

[Baccus]

If the suppliers are no help, what about going straight to the source, the filter manufactor and get some advice off them on how their filter system works. The pebbles (I'm thinking smooth river pebbles) wouldn't hurt the tank, even a layer of smooth gravel would probably be ok. I am not sure on the hygiene requirements for such a tank that could potentially have thousands of people putting body parts in for the fish to clean, and how these requirements (eg frequent massive water changes with treated water) would impact on the fishes health. I am wondering if the tank is more like a pond or plunge pool like they use in Asia with these fish or are the fish in a fish tank and the customers are supposed to dangle their hands in the water for the fish to nibble? I am really hoping they aren't intending to take fish out and put them in foot tubs at each individual customers feet for an alloted time as this would be really stressful to the fish. Chased around put in possible clean tap water placed in a smallish tub and then have feet plunged in at you, only to later be dumped back in your usual home.

Maybe some research on how these tanks are run in health spas in Asia will also spread some light on the best way to care for these fish.

I'm lucky I don't have to go to a day spa for skin nibbling my fish my guppies do a pretty good job of it when ever I have to do stuff in their tank.LOL

 

[Littlemisscoolio]

Hi, I have a fish spa and our ammonia levels spiked too. They must keep up the 10% water changes, even when tanks not in use.
Do a massive water change to get levels back down, obviously adding water conditioner and bacteria.
Then keep doing 10% twice a day. Feed fish every other day and don't be too thorough when cleaning filter pads.
Hope this helps, it worked for me.

 

[hanny93]

The Garra Rufa foot spa's are just largeish tanks with about 100-300 fish in each tank.

http/www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http/nimg.sulekha.com/others/original700/russia-garra-rufa-foot-spa-2010-6-27-17-41-58.jpg&imgrefurl=http/newshopper.sulekha.com/russia-garra-rufa-foot-spa_photo_1399730.htm&usg=__lnksjRhtZrxS8TV3e1psZa8zCNs=&h=590&w=800&sz=90&hl=en&start=26&zoom=1&tbnid=H6cDvOtSiTd_fM:&tbnh=132&tbnw=176&ei=UqO_TfrJEJLZ4waIj8jvBA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dgarra%2Brufa%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1419%26bih%3D715%26tbm%3Disch0%2C536&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=409&vpy=310&dur=567&hovh=193&hovw=262&tx=135&ty=99&page=2&ndsp=28&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:26&biw=1419&bih=715

As you can see next to the tank there is a seat, under which is all the equipment like filter/heater etc.

The client sits on the seat and dangles their feet in for 30 mins or so, and the fish eat all the dead skin off their feet.
It's an excellent way of getting rid of dead skin, as they just eat dead cells.

People have put them in pools and jacuzzi's (although obviously not that hot) and people lie in the pools. One man even put his face in and they cleaned his teeth for him.

The fish are sourced properly for the real shops, although some highstreet stores don't and a large perceentage of them die.

 

[j47n3]

Thank you to all that replied I will pass on the advise and will help her get set up again properly. Wasn't sure what response I'd get considering the use of the fish being somewhat controversial.
Have run enough water to start her off again trying to get her to stear clear of the use of chemicals since that's all she got from the local pet shops (more money in their pockets I guess)
Have found pics of canister filter so might be able to find out the manufacturer from there and therefore the spec etc.

 

[hanny93]

Depending on what chemicals she has they might be useful.
She needs water conditioner to get all the heavy metals out of tap water (chlorine and chloramines, chloramines won't evaporate either like chlorine).

Make sure no bleach is used to clean the tanks unless it is rinsed properly.

 

[Marto666]

Avoid these fish spas like the plague! Or you could catch it..

http/www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12595809

 

[Mikaila31]

they are actually quite hardy fish. The fish in my sig is garra flavatra which I keep. They are great fish, and can show the same behavior as garra rufa. Spa life for them is poor. You need to fishless cycle though, they don't stand ammonia or nitrite well at all. Most other things though... I would still expect losses. Those 'spas' are normally kept way too high in temp for the fish. 80 degrees would be max, mine do much better at lower temps. Main issue is they seem to like high oxygen levels. Higher temp means lower oxygen in the water, they clearly breath faster the warmer it is to compensate for this. Too warm and they will suffocate IMO. I've kept mine all the way from 80* to low 70s. Its important to increase current/surface movement with high temps or they will stress out and start breathing hard.