{"product_id":"kissing-gourami-helostoma-temminckii","title":"Kissing Gourami | Helostoma temminckii","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Kissing Gourami is famous for its pouting, \"kissing\" lips — really a feeding and sparring habit rather than affection, as two fish lock mouths in a test of strength. It's a large, hardy, characterful labyrinth fish that can reach around 25–30 cm, so despite its easy-going nature it needs a genuinely roomy tank. The common pink form is the one usually seen in the hobby.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eHelostoma temminckii comes from slow, warm, densely vegetated waters across Thailand, Indonesia and the wider Southeast Asian tropics — swamps, backwaters and sluggish rivers. Like other gouramis it has a labyrinth organ and regularly gulps air from the surface to supplement its oxygen in these still, often oxygen-poor waters.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eA deep, oval, laterally compressed body. The familiar aquarium strain is a soft rosy pink; a silvery-green wild form also exists. The thick, protrusible lips are lined with fine teeth used to rasp algae and biofilm and to spar with rivals. Sexes are hard to tell apart externally.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eGenerally peaceful and community-friendly for its size, but the \"kissing\" contests are a genuine display of dominance and larger individuals can be pushy. Its main challenge is bulk rather than aggression — small tank mates may be intimidated or outcompeted. Give it space and calm, similarly sized companions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAn omnivore and constant grazer. In the wild it filters plankton and rasps algae and biofilm from surfaces. In the aquarium it takes flake, pellet, algae wafers and vegetable matter readily, plus frozen foods such as brine shrimp and daphnia. A vegetable-rich diet suits it best.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eProvide at least 200 litres, ideally 300 litres or more for an adult, with open swimming space, some robust planting and a secure lid — the warm surface air layer matters for the labyrinth organ. It is hardy and adaptable across a wide range of soft to moderately hard water, but appreciates warmth and clean conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eUnusually for a gourami, it builds no bubble nest and gives no parental care. Well-conditioned adults scatter huge numbers of floating eggs, often among surface plants; the eggs and fry are left to fend for themselves. Breeding is possible in a large tank but the lack of parental care means fry survival is low without intervention.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHelostoma temminckii\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eKissing Gourami\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoutheast Asia (Thailand, Indonesia and surrounds)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e25–30 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7–10+ years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (semi-aggressive \"kissing\" displays)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner–Intermediate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e200 litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e300+ litres\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore (flake, pellet, algae wafers, vegetables, frozen foods)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6.0–8.0\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–20 dGH (soft to moderately hard)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarger community aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMostly (may rasp algae and soft plants)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eOther calm, similarly sized fish — larger barbs, rainbowfish, medium peaceful cichlids such as severums, larger tetras, and robust catfish like plecos and larger corydoras. Choose companions too big to be bothered by its bulk.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eTiny nano fish that will be outcompeted or intimidated, very delicate long-finned species, fin-nippers, and small shrimp that may be eaten.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232838762787,"sku":null,"price":10.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232838795555,"sku":"AA2016","price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232838828323,"sku":null,"price":19.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"X-Large (15-25cm)","offer_id":55351970595107,"sku":null,"price":24.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Kissing_Gourami_4456ff5f-3d1a-4223-82fe-8c70662eac93.jpg?v=1781700341","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/kissing-gourami-helostoma-temminckii","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}