No More Nibbling

State orders closure of fish-nibbling salon at Mayfair (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
By Rick Romell of the Journal Sentinel

State officials have shut down the fish-nibbling skin care salon at Mayfair Mall after a month of operation, the owner of the business said Wednesday.

Gerald Williamson, owner of Doctor Fish Magnifique, said the Department of Regulation & Licensing ordered his business closed Tuesday, saying it violated state rules.

In the shop's regimen, about 100 little Asian "doctor fish" - formally, garra rufa fish - nibble away dead skin cells on patrons' feet as they soak in a clear plastic tank.

Department officials earlier had said that people offering pedicures must sanitize equipment for each customer and questioned how fish could be sanitized.

The store's position was that it did not offer pedicures and instead offered exfoliation treatment. The salon doesn't provide nail services and maintains that its procedure isn't technically a pedicure and not subject to the licensing requirements.

Williamson is keeping his equipment in his store, hoping for a reversal of the shutdown order. He also is considering a move to Illinois, where he said such fish treatments are legal.

Doctor Fish Magnifique made a big splash when it opened last month, but business fell off after state officials questioned whether the procedures were sanitary, Williamson said.

"The fish are very sanitary," he said. "There are no documented cases in the world of these fish passing diseases or germs or anything." Read article.