Care and Compatibility of Kissing Gourami - Helostoma temminckii


Introduction

The Kissing Gourami has an elongated and laterally compressed body, with a large mouth and prominent lips that enable them to perform the 'kissing' behavior. They have a varied coloration, with shades of pink, yellow, and orange on their body. Males are usually larger and have longer fins than females.

Behavior

The Kissing Gourami, scientifically known as Helostoma temminckii, is a freshwater fish native to Southeast Asia. They are known for their peculiar 'kissing' behavior and distinctive appearance. They are peaceful and are usually kept in groups in community aquariums.

Sexual Dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism in Helostoma temminckii is minimal and difficult to distinguish. Both males and females have a similar appearance.

Reproduction

The reproduction of the Kissing Gourami can be challenging in home aquariums. They are surface-spawning fish and require proper water conditions and a nutritious diet to induce breeding. During courtship, males display intense colors and perform displays to attract females. After fertilization, the eggs float on the water surface and are cared for by both parents until they hatch.

Aquarium Conditions

Helostoma temminckii, commonly known as the kissing gourami, requires a spacious aquarium with dense vegetation and open areas for swimming at the surface. It prefers neutral to slightly acidic water and a warm temperature. Aquarium décor should include floating plants and hiding spots. Maintaining water quality is crucial and providing a balanced diet.

Feeding

They are omnivorous fish and accept a wide variety of foods in their diet. They primarily feed on algae, small aquatic invertebrates, and plant matter. They can also consume commercial foods in the form of pellets, flakes, or pellets. It is recommended to supplement their diet with live or frozen foods to promote their health and vitality.

Complexity

Caring for Helostoma temminckii can be moderately challenging. They are peaceful fish that can be shy at first but become very active once they adapt. They are omnivores and accept a variety of foods, but they need enough space to swim and breathe atmospheric air. They require powerful filtration to maintain water quality.


In case you need more help, or if you want to know into any topic related to the Helostoma temminckii (Kissing Gourami) and even any other species you can use the forums to ask what you need.

To do an analysis more detailed about coexistence and behavior of Helostoma temminckii (Kissing Gourami) use the Aquarium simulation tool, if you do this you can test different ways to combine the Kissing Gourami with other fishes giving the dimensions and space on you aquarium, on this way you can known the optimal configuration for keep the fishes that you want.

You can also find out the 107 species compatible with the Helostoma temminckii (Kissing Gourami) can live together.

Note: The parameters of the water such as PH and temperature are also used to calculate the compatibility of the species.


Compatible species (107)

Compatible (32 Species)

Compatible without any restriction


Suckermouth catfish - Hypostomus plecostomus

Suckermouth catfish

Hypostomus plecostomus

Sun Catfish - Horabagrus brachysoma

Sun Catfish

Horabagrus brachysoma

Bala Shark - Balantiocheilus melanopterus

Bala Shark

Balantiocheilus melanopterus

Gray bichir - Polypterus senegalus

Gray bichir

Polypterus senegalus

Clown Loach - Chromobotia macracanthus

Clown Loach

Chromobotia macracanthus

Comet Goldfish - Carassius auratus III

Comet Goldfish

Carassius auratus III

Galaxy Plecostomus - Leporacanthicus sp L240

Galaxy Plecostomus

Leporacanthicus sp L240

Striped Raphael Catfish - Platydoras costatus

Striped Raphael Catfish

Platydoras costatus

Upside-Down Catfish - Synodontis eupterus

Upside-Down Catfish

Synodontis eupterus

Golden Royal Pleco - Sturisoma aureum

Golden Royal Pleco

Sturisoma aureum

Severum Cichlid - Heros efasciatus

Severum Cichlid

Heros efasciatus

Celestial eye goldfish - Carassius auratus V

Celestial eye goldfish

Carassius auratus V

Silver Dollar Fish - Metynnis argenteus

Silver Dollar Fish

Metynnis argenteus

Freshwater angelfish - Pterophyllum scalare

Freshwater angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

Coolie loach - Pangio kuhlii

Coolie loach

Pangio kuhlii

Leopard Cactus Pleco - Hypancistrus Furunculus L199

Leopard Cactus Pleco

Hypancistrus Furunculus L199

Swordtail fish - Xiphophorus hellerii

Swordtail fish

Xiphophorus hellerii

Pearl gourami - Trichogaster leerii

Pearl gourami

Trichogaster leerii

Harlequin Rasbora - Trigonostigma Heteromorpha

Harlequin Rasbora

Trigonostigma Heteromorpha

Dragon Violet Goby - Gobioides broussonnetii

Dragon Violet Goby

Gobioides broussonnetii

Boeseman's Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia Boesemani

Boeseman's Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia Boesemani

Princess of Burundi Cichlid - Neolamprologus brichardi

Princess of Burundi Cichlid

Neolamprologus brichardi

Denison Barb - Puntius denisonii

Denison Barb

Puntius denisonii

Flag Cichlid - Mesonauta festivus

Flag Cichlid

Mesonauta festivus

Empire Gudgeon - Hypseleotris compressa

Empire Gudgeon

Hypseleotris compressa

Archerfish - Toxotes jaculatrix

Archerfish

Toxotes jaculatrix

Mije Fish - Leporinus fasciatus

Mije Fish

Leporinus fasciatus

Stick Catfish - Farlowella acus

Stick Catfish

Farlowella acus

Red Rainbowfish - Glossolepis incisus

Red Rainbowfish

Glossolepis incisus

Altum Angelfish - Pterophyllum altum

Altum Angelfish

Pterophyllum altum

Son especialmente compatibles con hembras de su misma especie, procurar mantener un grupo de 2 o 3 hembras por cada macho.


Kissing Gourami - Helostoma temminckii

Kissing Gourami

Helostoma temminckii

Similar Sizes (20 Species)

They can coexist if they are the same size or very similar sizes, it does not work in all cases, there may be exceptions.


Molly fish - Poecilia sphenops

Molly fish

Poecilia sphenops

Butterfly Loach - Beaufortia leveretti

Butterfly Loach

Beaufortia leveretti

Yoyo Loach - Botia almorhae

Yoyo Loach

Botia almorhae

Guppy fish - Poecilia reticulata

Guppy fish

Poecilia reticulata

Tiger Barb - Puntius tetrazona

Tiger Barb

Puntius tetrazona

Bleeding Heart Tetra - Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma

Bleeding Heart Tetra

Hyphessobrycon erythrostigma

Dwarf marbled catfish - Microglanis poecilus

Dwarf marbled catfish

Microglanis poecilus

Hatchet Fish - Thoracocharax stellatus

Hatchet Fish

Thoracocharax stellatus

Glass Catfish - Kryptopterus bicirrhis

Glass Catfish

Kryptopterus bicirrhis

Black Phantom Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Megalopterus

Black Phantom Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Megalopterus

Upside-Down Catfish - Synodontis nigriventris

Upside-Down Catfish

Synodontis nigriventris

Forktail Blue-Eye - Pseudomugil furcatus

Forktail Blue-Eye

Pseudomugil furcatus

Blue-Eyed Pseudomugil - Pseudomugil paskai

Blue-Eyed Pseudomugil

Pseudomugil paskai

Pictus Catfish - Pimelodus pictus

Pictus Catfish

Pimelodus pictus

Dwarf Tetra - Hasemania nana

Dwarf Tetra

Hasemania nana

Semifasciolatus Barb - Puntius semifasciolatus

Semifasciolatus Barb

Puntius semifasciolatus

Moenkhausia Pittieri - Moenkhausia pittieri

Moenkhausia Pittieri

Moenkhausia pittieri

Bamboo Shrimp - Atyopsis moluccensis

Bamboo Shrimp

Atyopsis moluccensis

Spotted Dora Catfish - Agamyxus pectinifrons

Spotted Dora Catfish

Agamyxus pectinifrons

With Reservation (3 Species)

Compatible in some cases, it depends on the nature and personality of the fish.


Veil tail Goldfish - Carassius auratus I

Veil tail Goldfish

Carassius auratus I

Telescope goldfish - Carassius auratus II

Telescope goldfish

Carassius auratus II

Apple Snail - Pomacea bridgesii

Apple Snail

Pomacea bridgesii

Considerable size difference (41 Species)

They can coexist while they are similar in size or the size difference is not very abysmal, since as the fish grows it increases the chances of eating its partner that did not grow much.


Glassy Perchlet - Parambassis ranga

Glassy Perchlet

Parambassis ranga

Platy Fish - Xiphophorus maculatus

Platy Fish

Xiphophorus maculatus

Red-eyed Tetra - Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae

Red-eyed Tetra

Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae

Female Siamese Fighting Fish - Betta Splendens Female

Female Siamese Fighting Fish

Betta Splendens Female

Male siamese fighting fish - betta splendens male

Male siamese fighting fish

betta splendens male

Dwarf Gourami - Colisa lalia

Dwarf Gourami

Colisa lalia

Zebrafish - Danio rerio

Zebrafish

Danio rerio

Black Skirt Tetra - Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Black Skirt Tetra

Gymnocorymbus ternetzi

Chinese Neon Tetra - Tanichthys albonubes

Chinese Neon Tetra

Tanichthys albonubes

Otocinclus Catfish - Otocinclus Affinis

Otocinclus Catfish

Otocinclus Affinis

Wasp Goby - Brachygobius Xanthozona

Wasp Goby

Brachygobius Xanthozona

Glowlight Tetra - Hemigrammus Erythrozonus

Glowlight Tetra

Hemigrammus Erythrozonus

Black Neon Tetra - Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Black Neon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi

Neon tetra fish - Paracheirodon innesi

Neon tetra fish

Paracheirodon innesi

Galaxy Rasbora - Danio margaritatus

Galaxy Rasbora

Danio margaritatus

Serpae Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Eques

Serpae Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Eques

Goldeneye Dwarf Cichlid - Nannacara anomala

Goldeneye Dwarf Cichlid

Nannacara anomala

Ember Tetra - Hyphessobrycon Amandae

Ember Tetra

Hyphessobrycon Amandae

Three lined Pencilfish - Nannostomus Trifasciatus

Three lined Pencilfish

Nannostomus Trifasciatus

Cherry Barb - Barbus titteya

Cherry Barb

Barbus titteya

Filamented Rainbowfish - Iriatherina Werneri

Filamented Rainbowfish

Iriatherina Werneri

Endler Guppy Fish - Poecilia Wingei

Endler Guppy Fish

Poecilia Wingei

Caridina Shrimp - Caridina cf. Cantonensis

Caridina Shrimp

Caridina cf. Cantonensis

Nerite Snail - Neritina sp

Nerite Snail

Neritina sp

Clown Pleco - Panaqolus maccus

Clown Pleco

Panaqolus maccus

Royal Pleco - Panaque nigrolineatus

Royal Pleco

Panaque nigrolineatus

Congo Tetra - Phenacogrammus interruptus

Congo Tetra

Phenacogrammus interruptus

Lacustris Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia lacustris

Lacustris Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia lacustris

Preacox Rainbowfish - Melanotaenia preacox

Preacox Rainbowfish

Melanotaenia preacox

Stiphodon Ornatus - Stiphodon ornatus

Stiphodon Ornatus

Stiphodon ornatus

Anentome Helena - Anentome helena

Anentome Helena

Anentome helena

IndoPlanorbis Exustus - Planorbis planorbis

IndoPlanorbis Exustus

Planorbis planorbis

Horned Snail - Tyloperlamania sp

Horned Snail

Tyloperlamania sp

Red Cherry - Neocaridina davidi

Red Cherry

Neocaridina davidi

Amano Shrimp - Caridina multidentata

Amano Shrimp

Caridina multidentata

Blue Bee Shrimp - Paracaridina sp

Blue Bee Shrimp

Paracaridina sp

Florida Dwarf Crayfish - Cambarellus diminutus

Florida Dwarf Crayfish

Cambarellus diminutus

Red-Backed Tetra - Hyphessobrycon bentosi

Red-Backed Tetra

Hyphessobrycon bentosi

Lemon Tetra - Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Lemon Tetra

Hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis

Compatible if space is enough (11 Species)

They can coexist together if the aquarium they share is large and spacious enough for both species to feel good, as some fish may attack others to feel that they have little space and try to eliminate the competition.


Pez Loro - Red Parrot

Pez Loro

Red Parrot

Frontosa Cichlid - Cyphotilapia frontosa

Frontosa Cichlid

Cyphotilapia frontosa

Tetraodon Nigroviridis - Tetraodon Nigroviridis

Tetraodon Nigroviridis

Tetraodon Nigroviridis

Convict Cichlid - Amatitlania nigrofasciata

Convict Cichlid

Amatitlania nigrofasciata

Siamese Algae Eater - Crossocheilus Siamensis

Siamese Algae Eater

Crossocheilus Siamensis

Firemouth Cichlid - Cichlasoma meeki

Firemouth Cichlid

Cichlasoma meeki

Labidochromis caeruleus - Labidochromis caeruleus

Labidochromis caeruleus

Labidochromis caeruleus

Kribensis Cichlid - Pelvicachromis pulcher

Kribensis Cichlid

Pelvicachromis pulcher

Cockatoo Cichlid - Apistogramma Cacatuoides

Cockatoo Cichlid

Apistogramma Cacatuoides

Fire Fish Dragon Blood - Aulonocara Firefish

Fire Fish Dragon Blood

Aulonocara Firefish

Multis Fish - Neolamprologus multifasciatus

Multis Fish

Neolamprologus multifasciatus

Kissing Gourami

Helostoma temminckii

Kissing Gourami - Helostoma temminckii
  • Ph: 6.8 - 8.4
  • Temperature (c°): 21 - 28
  • Measures: 15 cm - 20cm
  • Aquarium Capacity:
    60 Liters - 16 Gallons
  • Behavior: Eat fins, Peaceful, Territorial with its species
  • Size: Medium
  • Water Type: Sweet water