Why are my Kissing Gouramis kissing each other?

Despite looking affectionate, this is actually a dominance display or territorial dispute. The fish are locking lips to test each other's strength and establish a hierarchy within the tank.

How big do Kissing Gouramis get?

They can grow exceptionally large for a gourami, typically reaching 15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 inches) in a home aquarium, though they can grow even larger in the wild.

Will a Kissing Gourami eat my aquarium plants?

Yes, they are highly herbivorous and will often graze on and destroy soft-leaved aquatic plants. If you wish to keep plants with them, choose tough species like Anubias, Java Fern, or Vallisneria.

Do Kissing Gouramis build bubble nests?

No. Unlike Betta fish and most other common gouramis, Kissing Gouramis are open-water egg scatterers. They release buoyant eggs that float to the water's surface.

Can I keep just one Kissing Gourami?

Yes, they can be kept solitary without any issues. Keeping a single specimen avoids the territorial lip-locking battles that can occur between conspecifics.

FreshwaterTropicalIntermediate

Kissing Gourami

Helostoma temminckii

The Kissing Gourami is a large, iconic labyrinth fish famous for its unique lip-locking behaviour and distinctively thick mouth.

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Ideal Conditions

Temperature: 22 – 28 °C
pH range: 6 – 8
Hardness: 5 – 20 dGH
Adult size: 15 – 25 cm
250 litres: 250 litres+
Lifespan: 10 – 15 years
Diet: omnivore
Water flow: low to moderate
Preferred setup: Spacious aquarium with hardy plants, driftwood, and plenty of open swimming space

About the Kissing Gourami

Native to the slow-moving waters and peat swamps of Southeast Asia, Helostoma temminckii is the sole member of its family. While widely recognised for its 'kissing' action, this behaviour is actually a test of strength between rival fish rather than a display of affection. They are substantial, deep-bodied fish that require equally substantial aquariums, often outgrowing the setups of unprepared beginners.

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Where Kissing Gourami comes from

Native range

Southeast Asia

Countries / regions

Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam

Habitat

Sluggish, heavily vegetated rivers, marshes, peat swamps, and shallow lakes.

Widely introduced outside its native range due to aquaculture and the aquarium trade.

Similar species

Giant Gourami
Osphronemus goramy
Moonlight Gourami
Trichopodus microlepis

We’re adding more full species guides as the catalogue grows.

Compatible tank mates

Reviewed guidance based on this species' recorded traits.

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Clown Loach
Chromobotia macracanthus
Large, robust bottom-dwellers that occupy a different swimming zone and will easily tolerate the gourami's size.
Great
Bristlenose Pleco
Ancistrus sp.
Peaceful, armoured bottom-dwellers that will ignore the kissing gourami's mid-water dominance displays.
Great
Congo Tetra
Phenacogrammus interruptus
Large enough not to be intimidated or swallowed, and fast enough to avoid any territorial disputes.
Great
Other Kissing Gouramis
Helostoma temminckii
They will frequently engage in lip-locking dominance disputes; ensure the tank is very large to prevent excessive stress.
Compatible with caution
Male Betta
Betta splendens
Can trigger aggressive responses in other labyrinth fish, and the Betta is likely to be severely outmatched and stressed.
Not recommended

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