Kissing gourami care

Water temperature

72–82°F

Keep kissing gouramis at 72–82°F with a pH of 6–8, in a tank of at least 55 gallons. Good tank mates include bichirs, elephant nose fish, blue gouramis.

The kissing is sparring. Grows big and grazes soft plants.

Helostoma temminckii

pH

6–8

Minimum tank

55 gal

Adult size

10.0 in

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Group

Alone or in pairs

Lifespan

10–15 years

Swims at

Middle

Diet

Omnivore

Best tank mates

• BichirYes
• Elephant nose fishYes
• Blue gouramiYes
• AngelfishYes
• OscarYes
• Kuhli loachYes
• Black ghost knifeYes
• Common plecoYes
• Pictus catfishYes
• Yoyo loachYes
• Rainbow sharkYes
• Firemouth cichlidYes

Full kissing gourami tank mate chart: 44 yes, 43 with care, 11 no

Kissing gourami water compared

Fish to keep away from kissing gouramis

• Betta Bettas and kissing gouramis are both labyrinth fish and tend to fight over the surface.
• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); kissing gouramis need 72–82°F. No temperature suits both.
• Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); kissing gouramis need 72–82°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.
• Cherry shrimp A kissing gourami is big enough to swallow adult cherry shrimp.
• Ghost shrimp A kissing gourami is big enough to swallow adult ghost shrimp.
• Bamboo shrimp A kissing gourami is big enough to swallow adult bamboo shrimp.
• Paradise fish Paradise fish and kissing gouramis are both labyrinth fish and tend to fight over the surface.
• Amano shrimp A kissing gourami is big enough to swallow adult amano shrimp.

More gouramis and bettas

• Betta76–82°F
• Honey gourami72–82°F
• Pearl gourami77–82°F
• Sparkling gourami72–82°F
• Paradise fish61–79°F
• Blue gourami72–82°F
• Dwarf gourami72–82°F