Kissing Gourami

The kissing gourami is recognized by its thick, outward-turned lips. The pink form is the one most often sold for aquariums; the wild form is silvery green. Two fish "kissing" lip to lip may look cute, but it is actually a struggle over territory and hierarchy.

It is sold small in stores, but it can reach 20 cm, and 25–30 cm in a large aquarium.

It lives in slow-flowing rivers, lakes and swamps of Southeast Asia, in warm, plant-rich water. It is also caught as food in the region.

• Volume: at least 250 liters and 120 cm in length.
• Plants: it eats soft-leaved plants; tough plants such as Anubias and Java fern hold up.
• Water: 24–27°C; adapts to a wide range of values. A strong filter is needed.

Omnivorous. It scrapes algae off the glass and decor with the tiny teeth on its lips; it also filters plankton and fine particles from the surface. Flakes and granules, spirulina, blanched vegetables (lettuce, spinach, zucchini) and frozen foods.

Generally calm but can be intolerant of its own species; "kissing" fights sometimes turn into constant chasing. It is mostly trouble-free with other species, but it may try to "clean" the bodies of slow fish with its lips.

Good companions: peaceful fish of similar size: large barbs, blue gourami, silver dollar, large plecos.

Avoid: very small fish, long-finned fish, planted setups.

In most aquariums a single fish is the most trouble-free setup. If a group is wanted, keeping 3 or more in an aquarium of 300 liters or more spreads out the aggression; two fish is the most problematic setup.

It does not build a bubble nest: its eggs are released toward the surface and float; the parents do not guard them and even eat them. It can be bred in a large aquarium, but this is rare in the hobby.

Hardy. With insufficient plant matter in the diet and in poor water, bacterial infections can occur.

It is very hard to tell apart from the outside; females carrying eggs are fuller.