Garra Rufa Fish
Scientific Information
- Garra rufa (Heckel, 1843)
- Family Cyprinidae (Carps)
- Size up to 15cm, according to museum records, but usually around 10cm
Origin
A non-migratory freshwater fish found in rivers through much of Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Turkey and Syria. There are also unconfirmed reports of the species in Oman and Saudi Arabia, but these aren’t considered compatible with the distributional range of the species.
Habitat
According to Krupp and Schneider, most Garra rufa are found in small muddy streams, rivers and lakes. However, the fish is also found in hot pools and locals bathe there in an attempt to get the fish to remove scales from their skin caused by a range of dermatological conditions.
Water
Temperatures in the natural habitat are said to range from 15-28C. In hot pools, the fish is said to live at a temperature around the 37C mark.
Sight Identification
Garra Rufa Origins
Originally from southern Turkey and northern Syria, for centuries Garra Rufa, have been known for softening and cleansing the skin of people who bathed in hot springs where the fish thrived. As the legend goes, the healing powers of the fish were discovered in modern times by a shepherd and his flock in Turkey 1917. Apparently he stumbled into marshy ground with an injured foot and found the open wound besieged by these Doctor Fish™. The wound healed and eventually word got out to the outside world about these incredible little “man-eaters”.
Worldwide, Garra Rufa have made a name for themselves as “bio-therapists”, “dermatologists” and “pedicurists”. Members of the carp and tilapia family, the Garra Rufa thrive in hot water (they can withstand up to up to 43 degrees centigrade!), which make them ideal “hot plunge pool companions”.
How the Garra Rufa Work
The treatment itself even has a name – “ichthyotherapy” – which is defined as “ the use of fish to treat illness, e.g. certain members of the family Cyprinidae such as Garra rufa and Cyprinion macrostomum living in hot springs near Sivas, Turkey nibble at skin lesions and are said to cure psoriasis. Probably exposure to UV light and to selenium in the water is aided by removal of dead skin”.
When kept in the correct conditions, Garra Rufa home in on areas of dry skin, especially around heels and soles of the feet and finger nails. For a psoriasis or eczema sufferer, the fish target the plaques — areas of sore, red and thickened skin.
Some Other Facts about Garra Rufa
They hide in and adhere by suction to stones and vegetation with their ventral crescent-shaped mouths and are bottom dwellers. They feed on algae, phytoplantons and zooplanktons but these are at times scarce because of the high temperatures of the water they live in. Garra Rufas are harmless and toothless fishes. These hardy fishes can live in warm waters of temperatures around 35 C to 43C.
There are claims that Garra Rufa exude a unique enzyme called dithranol (anthralin) which prevents fast development of cells from the skin, thereby alleviating Psoriasis. This however seems to be just a claim and has not of yet been scientifically proved by any reputable study as of yet.
Garra rufa is legally protected from commercial exploitation in Turkey due to concerns of over harvesting for export. As such this fish is not often seen in the aquarium trade.
References
- Ichthyotherapy as alternative treatment for patients with psoriasis: a pilot study, Grassberger M, Hoch W
- Fish Base, Garra rufa, Heckel 1843
- The distribution of taste buds in Garra rufa, Cinar K, Senol N, Kuru N.
