Nature of fish and tank mates
As a fish hobbyist, you may find every fish has its own charm. But Kissing Gouramis are truly and uniquely gorgeous. Their distinctive mouths with pouting lips make them fascinating and a must-add tank addition.
Kissing Gourami fish AKA kisser fish belong to the Helostomatidae family and are native to Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Pakistan, Cambodia and India.
These fish are generally peaceful when young and may become territorial when they become adults. However, you can handle them easily by adding compatible tank mates.
Some of the ideal Kissing Gourami tank mates are -
- Yoyo Loach
- Swordtails
- Angelfish
- Rosy Barb
- Tiger Barb
- Chinese Algae Eaters
- Congo Tetra
- Pictus Catfish.
Appearance
These fish come commonly in three colours - silver-green, pink and mottled. While green is more popular and mottled variety is less popular in aquariums, pink is often chosen.
Care
Kissing Gourami fish are wide swimmers. They require a 70-gallon tank with
freshwater. These fish are prone to the most common disease called Freshwater Ich if properly not taken care of.
Food
Gourami fish food can be dry flakes or pellets, blanched vegetables like spinach, lettuce, and zucchini. For protein and nutrients, add brine shrimp, tubifex worms, and bloodworms as occasional live or frozen food.
Average Size and Lifespan
Kissing Gourami size is up to 5-6 inches in captivity and up to 12 inches in the wild.
The average lifespan of Gourami aquarium fish is around 7 years and they may live up to 25 years.