Florida has banned the fish pedicures - where tiny carp fish nibble on rough skin - that became popular after Wilhemina had one on an episode of Ugly Betty. The Miami Heraldreports that sanitation is the issue for Florida's state regulators.
The issue for state regulators is not animal cruelty but sanitation, Antonacci said.
Florida has existing regulation forbidding pets or animals -- aside from trained assistance dogs -- in salons. There was also concern about clients swishing digits in water possibly containing leftover bits of previous clients.
"Disinfection between customers, there is no way that can be done," Antonacci said.
In Maryland, according to an Associated Press report last year, there were no state regulations for the pedicures, either, but one county health department ordered a salon to switch from a communal pool to small tanks and water changes for each customer.
Texas, Washington, Massachusetts and New Hampshire also have fish pedicure bans in place says the Miami Herald.
