Something Fishy: My Amazing Experience at the Dr. Fish Spa

Looking forward to spring, when my feet will finally break out of my winter boots, I decided it was time to get them sandal-ready—without the usual cloud of chemical fumes and piles of cotton pads. That’s how I ended up at Dr. Fish Spa on the Las Vegas Strip, letting a school of tiny eco-friendly “doctor fish” nibble my tired, neglected heels instead of booking a conventional, polish-heavy pedicure.

My First Eco-Friendly Fish Spa Visit

Walking into Dr. Fish Spa at 3663 S Las Vegas Blvd, right in the heart of Las Vegas, felt a little surreal. I’d read about garra rufa, the so-called “doctor fish” that naturally snack on dead skin, but I’d never actually imagined I’d volunteer my own feet for their lunch. The spa itself doesn’t look like a science experiment, though—inside, it’s bright, modern, and a touch whimsical, with dolphins, mermaids, and rows of sleek, glass aquariums doubling as footbaths. If you didn’t know they were full of tiny workers waiting to exfoliate you, you might mistake it for any ultra-hip urban spa.

Before I even went near a tank, the staff gave me a quick rundown of how everything worked and why it’s considered a greener alternative to a traditional pedicure. No nail polish, no remover, no acetone, and none of the petroleum-derived ingredients like toluene or dibutyl phthalate that you find in many polishes. I honestly hadn’t thought much about how wasteful regular pedicures can be—cotton pads, plastic nail files, chemical-laden lotions—but hearing it laid out made the fish option suddenly feel like the lighter footprint choice. It felt good to be pampering myself without that faint sense of environmental guilt.

After removing my shoes, my feet got a quick rinse, not for me but for the fish. Then came the moment of truth: I settled onto a comfortable leather couch and slowly lowered my feet into a clear tank filled with dozens of curious little fish. Instantly, they swarmed, and I let out an involuntary half-laugh, half-squeal. It didn’t hurt at all—more like a bubbly, super-charged tickle—but the sensation of seeing tiny fish “eating” my dead skin while I sat in a chic spa in Las Vegas was something my brain needed a minute to catch up with.

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What to Expect: Tickles, Smooth Skin, and No Toxins

Those first few minutes were honestly hilarious. The tickling was intense, like having a dozen soft electric toothbrushes buzzing against my soles and toes at the same time. Every now and then a fish would go between my toes and I’d have to stifle a giggle. After a while, though, I relaxed into it and just watched them at work. They don’t have teeth, so there’s no pinch or bite—just a gentle suctiony feeling as they slough off layers of dry skin I’d been ignoring all winter. It’s part spa treatment, part interactive nature show.

What impressed me most was how effective the session was without a single bottle of product in sight. Instead of chemical exfoliants, it’s all about the fish and an enzyme in their saliva that helps soften dead skin. After my 20 minutes were up and I lifted my feet out of the water, they genuinely felt smoother than they ever had after a quick DIY scrub at home. My heels, in particular, were transformed from dry and rough to surprisingly soft. No polish, no lotions I couldn’t pronounce—just water, fish, and a towel.

There’s also a wellness side to this that goes beyond purely cosmetic results. The staff mentioned that garra rufa sessions can be beneficial for certain skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema, thanks to that same natural enzyme and the gentle exfoliation. Because there are no harsh chemicals, it’s a kinder option for people whose skin flares up with traditional products or polish removers. From an environmental point of view, it felt good knowing I wasn’t contributing to more chemical runoff or plastic-heavy waste. The spa uses a specialized filtration system to keep the water clean and efficient, and the fish, frankly, looked like they were having a feast.

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Dr. Fish Spa Details: Location, Hours, and Prices

If you’re planning a visit, Dr. Fish Spa is conveniently located at:

Dr. Fish Spa
3663 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109, United States

The hours are pretty flexible, especially if you’re squeezing in a treatment between sightseeing or shows:

• Saturday: 10 am – 10 pm
• Sunday: 10 am – 9 pm
• Monday: 10 am – 9 pm
• Tuesday: 10 am – 9 pm
• Wednesday: 10 am – 9 pm
• Thursday: 10 am – 9 pm
• Friday: 10 am – 10 pm

They offer a surprisingly wide range of services. For the fish spa itself, you can choose:

• 20 Min Fish Spa for One – $49.20
• 35 Min Fish Spa – $69.20
• 10 Min Fish Spa or Kids 10 and under – $34.20

If you want to combine the fish treatment with other wellness therapies, there are several add-ons and bundles:

• 15 Min Red Light Therapy – $79.20
• 30 Min Ionic Detox – $69.20
• 20 Min Fish Spa and 30 Min Ionic Detox – $99.20
• 35 Min Fish Spa and 30 Min Ionic Detox – $119.20
• 15 Min Red Light Therapy and 15 Min Fish Spa – $99.20
• Painting with the Fish – $79.20 (a fun, artsy experience where you literally create art while the fish are at work).

I stuck with the 20-minute fish spa for my first time, which felt like the right balance between novelty and full-on immersion into this new world of eco pedicures. For someone with very dry or calloused feet, the 35-minute option would make sense, and if you’re into detox or biohacking trends, pairing it with the ionic detox or red light therapy might be appealing. The menu is designed so you can go simple and curious, like I did, or build a little wellness afternoon around your feet.

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Saving on Treatments: Memberships and Groupon Deals

If you’re local to Las Vegas or stay there often, the membership options are genuinely tempting, especially if you like the idea of swapping out chemical pedicures for something more natural on a regular basis. The Silver Membership is $95 and gives you unlimited Fish Spa experiences for one month. If you’re the kind of person who would happily pop in every week—or even a couple of times a week—to keep your feet soft without polish, it pays for itself quickly.

For a more all-inclusive approach, there’s the Platinum Membership at $125, valid for one month as well. That one includes unlimited Fish Spa experiences and unlimited Ionic Detox treatments. Considering a single 30-minute Ionic Detox alone is $69.20, anyone planning to do a few sessions in a month is going to get serious value from that membership. It basically turns “pampering” into part of your wellness routine rather than a rare splurge.

If you’re more of an occasional visitor (or you’re just testing the waters, literally), it’s absolutely worth checking Groupon before you book. You can find discounts up to 80% off on various spa treatments. That can turn what looks like a novelty vacation splurge into a very affordable treat. Between Groupon offers and monthly passes, there are plenty of ways to enjoy an eco-friendlier pedicure without paying Vegas-high prices every single time.

I walked into Dr. Fish Spa mostly curious and slightly skeptical, and walked out with genuinely softer, sandal-ready feet—and a whole new appreciation for how pampering doesn’t have to come wrapped in plastic and chemicals. Letting tiny garra rufa fish handle my “pedicure” turned out to be oddly relaxing, surprisingly effective, and noticeably greener than my usual polish-and-remover routine. Whether you’re a Vegas local, a frequent visitor, or just passing through with winter-tired feet, an eco-friendly escape to Dr. Fish Spa is a uniquely satisfying way to treat yourself—and the planet—a little more gently.