Aquaria Central ..........................Kissing Gourami


Helostoma temmincki
Other names:...........none
Origin:......................Thailand and Java
Max size:..................12"
PH:............-..............6.8-7.8
Temperature:...........74-80 F.
Min tank size:..........50 gallons
Food:.........................vegetables, flakes, pellets, small live foods, algae

Kissing Gouramis are best known for their habit of extending their lips and kissing. The action is not a sign of affection, but may be a display of aggression. This "kissing" is mostly used for scraping algae off of rocks.

The Kissing Gourami has a large, pink colored body, with almost colorless fins. This fish needs a large tank with lots of hiding space. Java fern and Java moss works well for this. It is difficult to sex this fish, though the female is fatter. Use coarse gravel to help prevent digging. A green-colored species, H. rudolfi, grows slightly larger.

When breeding, this fish prefers soft water. Unlike most Gouramis, this fish doesn't build a bubble nest. Instead, the eggs just float on top of the water. Use lettuce leaves on the surface as the spawning material. Large specimens may produce up to 1000 eggs.

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