Pink Kissing Gourami

Also known as Kissing Fish or Kissers, Pink Kissing Gouramis are a favorite for many fish keepers.  Recommended for the intermediate aquarist due to their large size and semi-aggressive temperament. The are hardy and can reach an adult size of 30 cm.  Minimum tank size is 200 litres.

Kissing Gourami (Helostoma temminckii) are native to Southeast Asia, originating from Thailand and Indonesia. Similar to Dwarf Gouramis and Bettas, they have a labyrinth organ, which is used to take in oxygen from the air. It’s a useful skill to have, as it allows them to survive in extreme conditions, when oxygen in the water gets low.

Behaviour

This species gets its name because individuals are often seen “kissing” in the water. While this may sound romantic, it is not. The act is actually a form of fighting over territory, usually between males.  Fighting will reduce as they mature and clearly define their own mating territories.  Occasionally this aggression might be directed towards tank mates. They can be kept in communities, but only with similarly sized fish. They sometimes ram the sides of other fish, which removes their slime coat.  If this happens often you should separate the fish.

They prefer slow-moving water with dense vegetation – ponds and marshes tend to be the most suitable.  Oxygen levels in these habitats might be lower than in rivers with fast currents. Kissing Gourami can survive this by breathing through their labyrinth organ.  The water would be warm with a fairly neutral pH, though these fish are hardy and can survive many different conditions. They live in climates with lots of sunlight, but the abundance of plants can shade the water beneath them.

Tank Conditions

Create some densely planted areas but also leave some open swimming spaces. Do not block off the surface either, these fish will want to head there to breathe occasionally. The plants will need to be fast-growing and strong, or they won’t be able to survive some nibbling from your Kissing Gourami. Java Fern and Hornwort are some durable examples.

Compatibility

Kissing Gourami can be a great addition to a community aquarium if their tank mates are chosen correctly.  Their tank mates need to be able to cope with their semi-aggressive nature.  Other species of Gourami do not make suitable tank mates because Kissing Gourami are aggressive towards fish that look like themselves. The best options are hardy and similar sized fish.  Some good options include: Tiger Barbs, Congo Tetra, Archerfish, Swordtails, Rosy Barbs, Angelfish, Pictus Catfish, Clown Loaches, Yoyo Loaches and Chinese Algae Eaters.  Avoid small species (like certain Tetras) because they are unable to defend themselves and are easily eaten.  If you spot any bullying, you will have to separate the fish.  It is safest to avoid invertebrates as there is a possibility of them being eaten.

Feeding

Omnivores like these are the easiest fish to feed. They can eat both plants and meat, so anything you add to the tank will be happily gobbled up. In the wild, plants would make up a large portion of their diet. The tiny teeth on their lips help them to rasp algae from rocks and break down larger vegetation. They would also eat insects should the opportunity arise. They also have gill rakers which filter the water that passes over the gills, helping them to eat plankton.  You can add green vegetables (lettuce, spinach and baby marrow/zucchini) into the tank to satisfy their need for plant matter.

Care

If everything mentioned so far has been implemented, disease will be rare because this is a hardy species. Sometimes disease is unavoidable though – there a couple of common ones to be aware of.

Hole in the head disease (HITH) causes pale, eroding holes on an infected fish’s head. These gradually get larger, providing an entry point for other pathogens. Potential causes are uncertain but moving the fish to a different tank without activated carbon often leads to improvement.

Ich (white spot disease) is an ectoparasite that presents as white spots over the body. Other symptoms include a loss of appetite and cloudy eyes. Separate the infected fish as soon as you spot the disease.

See Fish Disease Diagnosis and Treatment at Rebel Pets for help with diagnosing and treating diseases.