Kissing Gourami

How to Care For Kissing Gourami

The Kissing Gourami (Helostoma temminckii), also known as the Kisser Fish, is a fascinating freshwater species native to Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Malaysia. It is a member of the gourami family and has gained popularity in aquariums worldwide because of its unique “kissing” behavior. While it appears affectionate, this lip-locking action is actually a form of social interaction or territorial sparring rather than a sign of romance.

Kissing Gouramis have an oval, deep-bodied shape with laterally compressed sides, and they can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) in size, though most remain slightly smaller in captivity. They come in different color variants, including the natural greenish-gray form and a popular pink or albino variety often seen in aquariums. Their most distinctive feature is their fleshy, protruding lips lined with fine bristle-like teeth, which they use to scrape algae and plant matter. Like other gouramis, they also possess a labyrinth organ that allows them to breathe atmospheric air, making them well-suited for waters with low oxygen levels.

In their natural habitat, Kissing Gouramis are found in slow-moving rivers, ponds, and marshes filled with dense vegetation. They are active swimmers and require spacious aquariums of at least 55 gallons to thrive. While generally peaceful, they can be semi-aggressive, especially with their own kind during dominance displays, so they are best kept with similarly sized, peaceful to moderately aggressive tank mates.

These fish are omnivores with a flexible diet. In the wild, they feed on algae, plant matter, and small invertebrates, while in aquariums they readily accept flakes, pellets, vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, or zucchini, and occasional live or frozen foods like brine shrimp and bloodworms. With proper care, Kissing Gouramis can live for 7 to 10 years in captivity, making them a long-term and rewarding addition to a freshwater aquarium.