Kissing Gourami

Helostoma temminckii

Also known as: Kisser, Kissing fish, Pink kisser

Water Parameters

• Temperature: 22–28°C
• pH: 6–8
• Hardness (GH): 89–322 ppm (5–18 dGH)

Values above are general hardness (GH). For carbonate hardness (KH), the buffer that keeps pH stable, see the water parameters guide.

Care Summary

A familiar oddity of the aquarium trade, the kissing gourami is sold as a cute pink fish that puckers its lips, and bought by people who rarely realise it grows into a 20 to 25cm tank-filler. The trademark thick, everted lips are lined with fine teeth used to rasp algae and biofilm from surfaces, and the 'kiss' that gives the fish its name is a head-to-head pushing contest between rivals, not a display of affection. Most in the trade are the artificially pale pink farmed form; a mottled green wild form and a stunted 'balloon' deformity are also sold. Kissing gouramis are hardy and long-lived but need real space and robust tankmates, and they have an appetite and a size that rule out the peaceful nano communities they are often mistakenly added to. A characterful, undemanding centrepiece for a large community, sold honestly only when its adult size is made clear.

Tankmates

The famous 'kissing' is not affection but a contest: two kissing gouramis lock their thick, everted lips and push, a trial of strength to settle dominance, which is a clue to the temperament. They are mostly peaceful toward unrelated fish but large, pushy, and quite capable of bullying smaller or weaker tankmates and of eating anything small enough to fit in the mouth, so they belong with robust, medium-to-large community fish rather than nano species or other gouramis, which they harass. A labyrinth fish, it needs surface access and a warm, covered tank. Given its eventual size it needs a tank of 200 litres or more, and being a grazer that rasps surfaces it appreciates a tank with algae and biofilm to pick at. Tolerant of hard Australian tap water.

Compatible with

• Silver Dollar
• Bala Shark
• Bristlenose Pleco
• Clown Loach
• Denison Barb
• Congo Tetra

Avoid keeping with

• Betta
• Dwarf Gourami
• Honey Gourami
• Neon Tetra
• Cherry Shrimp
• Ember Tetra

Common Problems

• outgrowing the tank (reaches 20-25cm)
• bullying smaller or weaker tankmates
• being sold as a small fish without disclosing its adult size
• ich

Sources: seriouslyfish.com, fishbase.org · Last updated: 2026-06-20