Kissing gourami
Helostoma temminckii
The famous kissing fish grows to about 10 inches and can live over 20 years; its kisses are really contests for dominance.
Key facts
- Body length
- 9.8 in without fins
- Minimum tank
- 95 gallons
- Group
- Alone is fine
- Temperament
- Semi-aggressive
- Care level
- 3 / 5
- Lifespan
- 20–25 years
- Diet
- Spirulina flakes, small pellets, blanched vegetables
- Origin
- Indochina and the Malay archipelago
- Hardier than53%
- Bigger than89%
- Calmer than28%
Water: their range vs yours
Kissing gourami tank mates
- Neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Harlequin rasboraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Fancy guppyGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Panda corydorasGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Cherry shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- AngelfishGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Tiger barbGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Amano shrimpGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black neon tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Black widow tetraGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Blue dolphin cichlidGets along in shared water.Good mates
- Bristlenose plecoGets along in shared water.Good mates
- OtocinclusKissing gourami outcompetes the slow-eating Otocinclus for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- Blood parrot cichlidKissing gourami outcompetes the slow-eating Blood parrot cichlid for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- DiscusKissing gourami outcompetes the slow-eating Discus for food; target-feed to make sure it eats.Risky
- GoldfishGoldfish needs cool water; kissing gouramis need tropical heat.Risky
- Honey gouramiKissing gourami attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Honey gourami.Risky
- Pearl gouramiKissing gourami attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Pearl gourami.Risky
- BettaBetta attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Kissing gourami.Avoid
- Dwarf gouramiDwarf gourami attacks fish with a similar shape or colour: Kissing gourami.Avoid
- Iridescent sharkIridescent shark can eat Kissing gourami: prey body depth 7.5 cm ≤ mouth 32.5 cm.Avoid
- African clawed frogAfrican clawed frog should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- Marbled crayfishMarbled crayfish should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
- AxolotlAxolotl should only be kept in a single-species tank.Avoid
How we check
The numbers the tank model uses for kissing gouramis: water as ideal and tolerated ranges, bioload from adult mass, space, flow and how they act on other species.
- Standard length
- 25 cm (SL)
- Adult mass
- 630.15 g
- Bioload at 25 °C
- 47.83 BU
- Min. water
- 304 L net
- Min. footprint
- 150 × 45 cm per specimen
- Group
- 1+ (best 1)
- Swims in
- middle, top
- Flow
- low
- Body / fins
- labyrinth, normal fins
- Diet type
- omnivore plant
- Fin nipper
- none
- Sensitive to
- —
Sources: Seriously Fish: Helostoma temminckii · FishBase: Helostoma temminckii
Care notes
Kissing gouramis come from still and slow waters of Indochina and the Malay archipelago. They feed on tiny particles and lots of plant matter, and cannot swallow anything bigger than a few millimetres.
One fish needs a 5-foot tank of 75 gallons or more. Do not keep two, since the stronger one bullies the weaker, and expect soft plants to be stripped; anubias and java fern hold up.
Questions
What size tank does a kissing gourami need?
At least 95 gallons (304 litres of water after decor). Adults reach about 9.8 inches without fins.
How many kissing gouramis should be kept together?
One is fine. They do not need company of their own kind.
What water do kissing gouramis need?
72–86 °F, pH 6–8 and 1–20 dGH. Kissing gouramis come from Indochina and the Malay archipelago.
How long do kissing gouramis live?
20–25 years with good care.
What fish can live with kissing gouramis?
Good tank mates include Neon tetra, Harlequin rasbora, Fancy guppy, Panda corydoras and Cherry shrimp. Each is checked both ways for size, fin nipping, temperament, territory and shared water.