Id request: Garra at C328

[Savant]

I am looking for Garra Rufa and was told that you can get them at C328...

Auntie told me that she can bring them in but shes not sure if they are garra rufa... As I understand that there are quite a number of fishes that look like the garra rufa, I hope some kind bros can try id when they drop by C328...

[dennypoon]

Hi bro,

I have not been to clementi 328.

How much is the auntie selling you per pc?

Apart from the chin chin which looks very different from the garra rufa.
Another fake spa fish which looks like the garra rufa which is sold in SG are the Garra ceylonensis.

Garra Rufa $10 to $20/pc
Garra ceylonensis $2/pc

Price is a tell tale sign of the real fish.
It is rather difficult to id the fish. I am able to id the fish but i am currently busy. Hopefully i will have time next week to see what C328 has to offer, and i will post my findings.

Qian Hu, they do sell the real stuff.

[fisherw]

I am looking for Garra Rufa and was told that you can get them at C328...

Auntie told me that she can bring them in but shes not sure if they are garra rufa... As I understand that there are quite a number of fishes that look like the garra rufa, I hope some kind bros can try id when they drop by C328...

This site has photos:

http://www.slipperylittlesuckers.com..._from=&ucat=4&

if you need a guide.

The ones at Y618 some while back (haven't been there for a while so cannot say if still available) looked more like G annandalei than G rufa.

[dennypoon]

Notice the dark black band at the end of the body near the tail for the real garra rufa, most of the fakes do not have this black band.

Hope this helps.

[Quixotic]

For what it's worth, G. annandalei (based on the picture) has that distictive dark band too. So I would suggest that it may not be the all conclusive identification key (just my opinion of course).

Honestly, I don't understand all that fuss with G. rufa, aside from seeing it as a fish that can be kept in the aquaria. They almost certainly can't cure Psoriasis on it's own, http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...51&postcount=4, and I am most certainly not convinced with the excretion of Diathronal enzyme claims as my own research leads me to something else, http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...39&postcount=7.

Substitute G. rufa with other hungry/starving Garra spp. will most certainly give you the same nibbling effect.

[fisherw]

I agree with Quixotic. I am no expert at identification but had assumed those at Y618 were probably G. annandalei specifically because of the dark band which was very pronounced. Also agree with him that probably any Garra sp. would do as those gave a pretty good nibble.

[dennypoon]

Very well. To each his own. But i do suffer from a skin problem, and i have tried many means to treat my condition, doctors don't seem to be of much help. I ever tried using other garras, as they are cheaper. But at the end of the day the garra rufa produced results that have help me improve my condition, to much of my satisfaction.

No offence, but from my personal experince and considering that the Garra rufa has been know for its healing abilities for hundreds of years, it does make sense to me that this little fellow helps, with some medical ability, if not magical ability.

Cheers.