Kissing Gourami
Helostoma temminckii
The Kissing Gourami (Helostoma temminckii) is a semi-aggressive fish that's a good step up once you have a little experience. Give it a tank of at least 135 litres (36 US gallons), water held at 72-86°F, and a pH of 6-7.8.
Captive lifespan reflects typical experience in a home aquarium, not maximum recorded age; genetics, sourcing, and care vary.
Natural distribution
Southeast Asia
- East & Southeast Asia
Regional colours match the stocking calculator's origin map.
Kissing Gourami Tank Setup
Give them at least 135 litres (36 US gallons) with gentle flow, water at 72-86°F, and a pH around 6-7.8. Gouramis breathe air at the surface, so keep it clear of thick film. They grow to around 25 cm, so plan the tank size and filtration for a full-grown adult rather than the small juvenile you see in the shop.
What Do Kissing Gouramis Eat?
They're not fussy eaters - feed a varied diet, rotating good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods rather than the same thing every day, and match the food size to their mouths.
Kissing Gourami Tank Mates
The Kissing Gourami is semi-aggressive, which is the first thing to weigh up when you choose tank mates. At around 25 cm fully grown, it needs tank mates that can hold their own against its size and appetite. Before you buy, run your full stocking list through our stocking calculator. It weighs temperament, adult size, and water needs together, which a single species page can't do on its own.
Are Kissing Gouramis Good for Beginners?
Doable once you test water regularly and catch problems before fish look sick. If this is your first tank, pick something more forgiving and come back later.
Kissing Gourami - frequently asked questions
What size tank do Kissing Gouramis need?
Kissing Gouramis need a tank of at least 135 litres (36 US gallons). A bigger tank is always easier to keep stable, and gives them more room to settle in and behave naturally.
What water parameters do Kissing Gouramis need?
Keep them at 72-86°F with a pH of 6-7.8, steady rather than chased to an exact figure. In a cycled tank, ammonia and nitrite should both read 0 ppm, with nitrate kept low through regular water changes.
What do Kissing Gouramis eat?
Kissing Gouramis are omnivores and aren't fussy eaters. Feed a varied mix of good-quality dry, frozen, and gel foods, and match the food size to their mouths. Feed small amounts once or twice a day, and remove anything they don't eat.
Are Kissing Gouramis good for beginners?
Kissing Gouramis are best for keepers with a little experience. They are manageable once you test water regularly and catch problems early; a complete beginner may prefer something more forgiving first.
Common mistakes with Kissing Gouramis
- Underestimating tank size - the minimum footprint is 135 litres (36 US gallons); impulse buying into a smaller tank leads to stress and shortened lifespan.
Building a community? Run the full list through the stocking calculator before you add anything else.
Great tank mates
Chosen from temperament, overlapping temperature/pH bands, plausible minimum tank footprints, and size versus yours in App-aquatic data. Hobby nuance always wins - verify stocking and temperament before purchasing.
Fish to avoid mixing with Kissing Gouramis
These well-known species are commonly sold alongside this fish but are not recommended tank mates - verify before purchasing.
- OscarPredator - Oscar will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Pea PufferPredator - Pea Puffer will eat or injure smaller tank mates
- Betta (Male)Predator - Betta (Male) will eat or injure smaller tank mates
