"Dr Fish" aka. the garra rufa fish spa treatment now offered at 100 Fountain Spa

Imagine spa therapists so eager that they never tire of exfoliating their clients' feet.  All day and all night - they'd happily work around the clock.  Tiny but tireless, their appetite for the job is voracious - specific, but impressive.

These small but remarkably energetic therapists are fish and they're the focus of the newest and most unusual spa therapy offered at Niagara-on-the-Lake's 100 Fountain Spa in the famous Pillar and Post Hotel.

Garra rufa fish, found in countries such as Thailand and Turkey, have long been known for its peculiar appetite for - well - human flesh.  Unlike its distant cousins, the piranha and the shark, the garra rufa won't gobble you up completely.  In fact, they have no teeth and are only interested in the dry skin on your feet, on which they will nibble until every flake is gone, leaving you with soles smoother than any pumice stone could ever accomplish.

This is not a treatment for the squeamish, nor for the ticklish!

After slipping out of your street clothes and into the usual soft spa robe, you'll be led by human therapists to meet your fishy friends - a whole tank full of them, churning in joyful anticipation of your deliciously flakey feet.  You'll climb to a seat just above the tank and lower your toes into warm water filled with masses of tiny little chompers.  In a heartbeat, your feet will be covered, as the tiny fish slide over the skin.

Does it tickle?  A bit.  Does it hurt? Not at all.  The sensation is initially like the churning bubbles of a Jacuzzi tub, but as the excitement in the tank settles a bit, you become aware of individual little fishy mouths nibbling oh so gently.  Not unpleasant, it's just completely unlike anything you've ever experienced - and it's fascinating.

Questions pop into your head: 

Does the first spa guest of the day get the best exfoliation from these ravenous wee therapists? 

Apparently not.  The garra rufa is never full and never less than thrilled to chow down on a fresh pair of feet.

Could they get carried away and begin to eat healthy, live skin?

No.  Once the dry skin in a particular area has been consumed, the dedicated diners move on.  Given that each treatment in the tank lasts approximately 15 minutes, you should have no fears of excessive nibbling.

What comes next?

The fishy part of the treatment is the prelude to a normal pedicure at the hands of the 100 Fountain Spa staff.  Cuddled in luxurious electric massage chairs, you'll enjoy all the usual treats of a pedicure, including a foot massage, moisturizing treatment, nail trimming and polish.  The only part of the regular routine that's skipped is the exfoliation - the fish have taken care of that.

The garra rufa pedicure is without doubt destined to be the most talked-about of all treatments offered at the 100 Fountain Spa.  Because the management has cleverly designed the treatment room to include two tanks, friends or partners can share the experience - just imagine the potential for giggles!

For more information, contact the 100 Fountain Spa at www.vintage-hotels.com/pillarandpost/spa.htm. 

Liz Fleming is an award-winning Canadian travel journalist who specializes in adventure, health and wellness and learning travel. For more from Liz, go to: Liz Fleming's Travel Tales