Kissing Gold Gourami Helostoma temminckii, they are family membersHelostoma. Kissing gourami inhabit the densely populated, shallow, slow-moving backwaters that are prominent in Thailand and Indonesia. Most of the fish exported to the freshwater aquarium trade industry are raised commercially on fish farms throughout Southeast Asia.
All Gouramies and the popular tropical fish, betta fish, are part of the suborder. Anabantoideimore commonly known as Anabantoids or Labyrinth Fish. Labyrinth fish evolved in poorly oxygenated environments. Part of this evolution included the development of a lung-like organ often referred to as a labyrinth. The labyrinth is flooded with blood capillaries that allow the absorption of atmospheric oxygen into the blood system. The addition of this organ allows the gouramies to survive out of the water longer than most other fish. Kissing gouramies have evolved to the point where they need a combination of atmospheric and dissolved oxygen to survive. This is why you will frequently see gouramies and bettas rising to the surface of an aquarium to gulp air. This gives them the ability to survive in less than ideal water conditions for extended periods.
Kissing gouarmies are one of the largest gouramies found in freshwater aquariums. They will reach an adult length of between 7.5 and 12 inches even in the confines of an aquarium. These fish have slightly rounded and laterally compressed bodies. Its tail fins are rounded or concave. Their most prominent feature is their mouths that characteristically protrude out of their face. His lips are full of baked teeth. Their jaws lack teeth. Kissing gouramies are commercially available in two colors. The one most commonly found in home aquariums is white. White gouramies have a pearly sheen to their bodies with a pink or orange tint and transparent pink fins. There is also a dwarf variety available. Dwarf kissing gourami are a mutated strain of pink gourami. They are often referred to as balloon gouramies because of their smaller, more rounded bodies.
The kissing gourami sold at the local fishmonger are quite young. Juveniles grow quickly and will quickly outgrow a small aquarium. An adult kissing gourami requires a minimum tank size of 50 gallons. You will need a larger aquarium for a well-stocked community tank. These fish have semi-aggressive temperaments. They generally mix well with fish of similar size and attitude. But they are prone to harassing smaller, shy tankmates. They are generally tolerant of their congeners, but males frequently challenge each other for inactivity. This challenge consists of closing the lips and participating in a pushing fight, as a deer closes its horns and tries to force its opponent to submit. Kissing gouramies have a habit of enjoying digging into the aquarium substrate. The best way to minimize this is by using larger, coarser gravel and larger rather than smaller rocks in your aquarium.
This is an omnivorous species. Seaweed is an important part of your diet. They are extremely efficient tank cleaners. It is recommended that you do not clean your aquarium glass during routine tank cleaning. These gouramies will use their serrated lips to scrape algae off the surfaces of your aquarium. This form of algae removal is commonly perceived as kissing. They instinctively graze on most aquarium plants. Inneable plants like Java moss and Java fern work well with kissing gouramies. Apart from these, plastic plants are highly recommended. Seaweed granules, in addition to a good quality flake food, are an excellent staple food. They will also easily accept frozen and lyophilized food products. Brine shrimp and tubifex are wonderful protein supplements. Kissing gouramies have an affinity for blanched table greens. Lettuce leaves are an all-time favorite. Regular servings of vegetables will end up providing a well balanced diet.
This fish thrives in water temperatures between 72-82 ° F. They do well at pH levels that vary slightly on either side of a neutral balance; 6.8-8.5. With proper care, a kissing gourami should live between 5 and 7 years of age.
Breeding kissing gouramies
Kissing gouramis are sexually dimorphic. Males and females are practically identical with the exception that females tend to be slightly larger and have a slightly fuller body than males.
A proper diet and aquarium conditions will help induce the breeding cycle. A high-protein live diet, such as brined shrimp, will help pre-condition your gouramies for spawning. Raising the water temperature up to 80 ° F adequately simulates the breeding season. Gouramies are more likely to breed in soft water conditions.
The reproduction process is usually initiated by the female and takes place under the cover of floating vegetation. Lettuce leaves provide the necessary camouflage to perpetuate reproduction. The breeding ritual begins with the pair circling. This quickly turns into jostling, dancing, and concludes with frenzied tail strokes. The brood begins when the male twists his body around the female and turns her upside down. Then the female will release several hundred eggs. The male fertilizes the eggs as they rise to the surface. Gourami eggs are buoyant and will float.
Kissing gouramies are open water egg spreaders. Unlike many gourami, these fish do not build a bubble nest for their future young. They won’t save their eggs either. Once spawning has occurred, the adults should be removed from the breeding tank to avoid predation. The same lettuce leaves that provided a suitable environment for spawning will now function as a kind of breeding chamber. The gouarmi eggs will stick to the lettuce. The eggs will hatch in approximately 24 hours. Lettuce provides a natural source of infusoria for newborn fry. Fry will be able to swim freely in about two days. Free-swimming fry can be fed finely ground flake food or brine shrimp.
