Uploaded October 2010 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
To read the entire story about my visit to the Fish Spa at Batu Ferringhi, Penang, Malaysia, go to holeinthedonut.com/2010/10/07/batu-ferringhi-fish-spa-penang-malaysia/, and if you enjoyed this video, please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel.
Garra rufa, also known as "doctor fish," occur naturally in the waters of a hot spring in Kangal, Turkey. Locals realized that the fish would peck away at dead and diseased skin of bathers, helping skin conditions such a psoriasis. Also known as "lickers," "nibble fish," and "red log suckers," these unique fish can grow to a length of 7.5 inches. They have bodies covered in gold scales and use their crescent-shaped, toothless mouths to nibble away dead skin, which supports renewal and rejuvenation. The high temperature of the water makes it difficult for any nutrients to survive, turning the fish into insatiable diners that will attack nearly anything that enters their domain.
The Fish Spa at Batu Ferringhi, in Malaysia, has recreated the conditions of the Turkish springs as closely as possible and stocked a giant tank with these skin-eating fish. $50 Malaysian Ringit (about $14.50 USD) buys clients the right to sit with their feet in the water for half an hour while the fish munch on their corns and callouses, followed by a 30-minute reflexology foot massage.
To read the entire story about my visit to the Fish Spa at Batu Ferringhi, Penang, Malaysia, go to holeinthedonut.com/2010/10/07/batu-ferringhi-fish-spa-penang-malaysia/, and if you enjoyed this video, please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel.
Garra rufa, also known as "doctor fish," occur naturally in the waters of a hot spring in Kangal, Turkey. Locals realized that the fish would peck away at dead and diseased skin of bathers, helping skin conditions such a psoriasis. Also known as "lickers," "nibble fish," and "red log suckers," these unique fish can grow to a length of 7.5 inches. They have bodies covered in gold scales and use their crescent-shaped, toothless mouths to nibble away dead skin, which supports renewal and rejuvenation. The high temperature of the water makes it difficult for any nutrients to survive, turning the fish into insatiable diners that will attack nearly anything that enters their domain.
The Fish Spa at Batu Ferringhi, in Malaysia, has recreated the conditions of the Turkish springs as closely as possible and stocked a giant tank with these skin-eating fish. $50 Malaysian Ringit (about $14.50 USD) buys clients the right to sit with their feet in the water for half an hour while the fish munch on their corns and callouses, followed by a 30-minute reflexology foot massage.
