Tilapia Siamese Twins

In Bangkok, Thailand, an unusual conjoined tilapia fish pair, dubbed as “Siamese twins” swim in an aquarium. The two are connected with a small piece of scaly tissue on the ventral part of their bodies. Eight months old as of October 3, 2008, the larger fish is said to protect the smaller one from harm. They are reminiscent of the famous human conjoined twins, the original “Siamese Twins” Chang and Eng.

The Original Siamese Twins Chang and Eng Bunker

It is from Siam (Thailand) that the most famous conjoined human twins came from. Born on May 11, 1817, Eng and Chang were born in Thailand with a flap of skin and cartilage which connected the lower part of their sternum. They were discovered by Scottish merchant Robert Hunter who brought them in 1829 to Boston and started a successful tour in the United States and elsewhere in the world until they tied up with PT Barnum circus.

Ten years after, they stopped their exhibition tours and settled, choosing to live in North Carolina as farmers. Electing US citizenship in 1939, but lacking last names, the twins were listed only as Chang and Eng, Siamese twins, prompting them to take the surname of Bunker.

The conjoined twins who attracted people of all walks of life to see them lived close to normal lives. They married sisters Sarah Ann and Adelaide Yates with whom they had several children. However in 1874, Chang contracted severe lung infection and passed away. His brother Eng also died soon after. Source: http://www.cojoweb.com =0=

Dr. Fish Does Unusual Pedicure In A Foot Spa

Business-minded people don’t seem to run out of ideas. In the case of John Ho who runs a hair and nails spa someplace in Washington D.C., having a small carp-like fish called garra rufa (aka Dr. Fish) to do pedicure for his customers seem a good business proposition.

“This is a good treatment for everyone who likes to have nice feet,” Ho said. AP/photo (07/21/08, Barakat, M.)

Before a standard foot care and grooming service, Ho’s patrons are allowed a deep in a water tank where the gentle fish, numbering about a hundred, carefully nibble away dirt and debris from the skin surface. The fish acts like a natural razor, removing the exfoliating scaly skin while the foot thaws in mildly warm water.

For $35 and $50 per 15 and 30-minute service respectively, the ticklish fish pedicure is like the traditional stone rub (perhaps, the latter being more efficient,) which rids the foot of its shedding stratum corneum, the cornified outer skin layer. Whether the fish pedicure is sanitary and safe or devoid of any public health risks remains to be seen. =0=