Kissing Gourami

COMMON NAME: Kissing Gourami.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Helostoma temmincki.

SYNONYM: Helostoma rudolfi.

DESIGNATION: Tropical.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION: Borneo, GreatSunda Islands, Malaysia and Thailand.

SIZE: Up to 30 cm (12 in).

WATER PREFERENCES: Not critical.Temperature: 25-30°C (77-86°F).

DIET: All foods, which must include a regularvegetable component.

BREEDING: This species has only been bred rarely in aquaria. A flat piece of floatingpolystyrene will sometimes act as a focus forthe building of a rudimentary bubblenest.Parental care by the male is, generally,minimal.

DESCRIPTION: This is usually apeaceful fish, despite its size. It is available inthree forms: Green or Wild-type, Pink and (more rarely) Marbled. The 'kissing'behaviour for which this species in famous islinked to aggression between individuals,rather than affection.

Kissing Gourami Information

• The kissing gourami actually originates in Thailand and the fish is actually caught for food. In USA the fish that are sold are most grown the Florida. The original color of the fish is mainly of two main varieties, the pinkish and the flesh color. The silver green colored fish in this variety is known as the green kisser.
• The green variety of the fish though was classified under the same section now it has been classified under a separate identity. The green fish is known as the Helostoma temminckii while the conventional pink variety is known as the Helostoma rudolfi. The word Helostoma is derived from the fish’s ability t kiss.
• The actual reason behind the kissing behavior of the fish is not yet determined but it is taken to be an act of showing off one’s strength in between one male fish with the other. It is a harmless act and it is studied that the incidence of such an act gradually reduces as the male fish gradually grows old. It is perhaps be explained in a way that with old age animals grow more wise and are interested to live a peaceful life rather than fighting and competing with each other.
• The male and female kissing gouramis are almost identical in appearance. They are oblong in shape with fleshy lips. They on the inner side of the fleshy lips a fine row of teeth is present. They are used while feeding on the algae. Another notable internal structure of the fish is the labyrinth organ just like other labyrinth fish.
• The labyrinth organ actually helps the fish to take oxygen directly from the air. This helps the fish to stay alive for quite a few minutes out into the air. In fact, the gills of such fish are incapable of taking in enough amount of oxygen from the water. As a result of which the fish often goes up to the surface of the water and tries to gulp a bit about of air to satisfy their oxygen requirement. Due to the presence of the labyrinth organs the fish can actually stay in waters having very low amount of oxygen.