Foot Cleaner Goby

The freshwater aquarium Garra rufa, or foot cleaner goby, or the doctor fish, or just the spa fish, originated in Turkey but is now bred by the thousands in China and exported to the global spa market. These little fish eat the dead skin off feet, so they are ready for a complete pedicure!

Out of the spa and in the aquarium, the garra rufa is a very good algae eater, eating both filamentous algae (stringy algae) and flat algae. These fish are active and friendly with just about every species in the aquarium. Garra rufa swim in a school, and we recommend the purchase of at least three to keep each other company.

Quick Facts

Care Guide

Tank setup: Garras are active and like flowing, well-oxygenated water. Give them smooth rocks, driftwood, some current and a lid, since they can climb and jump.

Feeding: Garras graze on algae. Also feed algae wafers, sinking pellets or flake.

Tankmates: They get along with most peaceful community fish, such as danios, barbs, rasboras, loaches and rainbowfish.

Good to know: Garras use a sucker-like mouth to graze algae from rocks and glass.