Pink Kissers
- Thread starter cichlidgold83
- Start date
Scientific Name: Helostoma temmincki
Common Names: Kissing Fish, Kissing Gourami
Size: Up to 12 inches (30 cm)
pH: 6 - 8
Temperature: 72ºF - 82ºF (22ºC - 28ºC)
Water Hardness: 5º to 20º dH
Lifespan: 5 - 7 years
Origin: South East Asia
Temperament: They can be territorial at times and will fight with their mouths. We've found that it is good to get a pair so that when they are feeling aggressive they will chase each other around instead of the other tropical fish.
Breeding / Reproduction: Very difficult to breed because they require large tanks. Unlike most of the labyrinth fish, the Kissing Gouramis are not bubble nest builders.They are open water breeders and can lay large amounts of eggs ( 1000+ ). Their eggs as well as the fry are lighter than water and float to the top. Once they have spawned, the eggs float to the top and are forgotten. Add a lettuce leaf or floating plants for the eggs to adhere to. The eggs hatch in a couple of days and should be fed the smallest of live foods. The young first feed on infusoria and roftiers in the water. Later they should be provided with egg yolk and Artemia nauplii. They grow quickly and are free-swimming after 3-5 days. The young are generally ignored by the parents, but as a precaution the parents should be removed.
Tank Size: 50 gallon or larger.
Diet / Food: Will take many types of foods, including flakes, pellets, freeze dried and especially live foods.
Tank Region: Middle and Top
Gender: Can not be determined by external features. Females may appear fatter enar spawning season.
Good luck with breeding them. Post pics of any success stories.
I used to raise these fish in bath tubs and play pools in the spring and summer. I never monitored their breeding.
In early spring, I set up the make-shift ponds that were partly filled with rainwater. I netted all the junk like leaves, dead bugs, etc. Filled the rest of the ponds up with tap water and dechlor. Then, I'd add a handfull of potting soil to give the microscopic life something to flourish on. Plants were added next. I used anacharis, cabomba, water hyacinth, water lettuce, etc. The water cycled and clear up in about 10 days. Once the water was clear and the night temps were high enough, in went the kissers (usually 6 per pond). I never saw much of them until the fall. I'd drop food on the surface but, the fish stayed hidden until I left. By late summer, I'd notice small fish going after the food. That was my indication that spawning had occurred. When I tore the ponds down in the fall, I usually netted several hundred gouramies out.
Common Names: Kissing Fish, Kissing Gourami
Size: Up to 12 inches (30 cm)
pH: 6 - 8
Temperature: 72ºF - 82ºF (22ºC - 28ºC)
Water Hardness: 5º to 20º dH
Lifespan: 5 - 7 years
Origin: South East Asia
Temperament: They can be territorial at times and will fight with their mouths. We've found that it is good to get a pair so that when they are feeling aggressive they will chase each other around instead of the other tropical fish.
Breeding / Reproduction: Very difficult to breed because they require large tanks. Unlike most of the labyrinth fish, the Kissing Gouramis are not bubble nest builders.They are open water breeders and can lay large amounts of eggs ( 1000+ ). Their eggs as well as the fry are lighter than water and float to the top. Once they have spawned, the eggs float to the top and are forgotten. Add a lettuce leaf or floating plants for the eggs to adhere to. The eggs hatch in a couple of days and should be fed the smallest of live foods. The young first feed on infusoria and roftiers in the water. Later they should be provided with egg yolk and Artemia nauplii. They grow quickly and are free-swimming after 3-5 days. The young are generally ignored by the parents, but as a precaution the parents should be removed.
Tank Size: 50 gallon or larger.
Diet / Food: Will take many types of foods, including flakes, pellets, freeze dried and especially live foods.
Tank Region: Middle and Top
Gender: Can not be determined by external features. Females may appear fatter enar spawning season.
Good luck with breeding them. Post pics of any success stories.
I used to raise these fish in bath tubs and play pools in the spring and summer. I never monitored their breeding.
In early spring, I set up the make-shift ponds that were partly filled with rainwater. I netted all the junk like leaves, dead bugs, etc. Filled the rest of the ponds up with tap water and dechlor. Then, I'd add a handfull of potting soil to give the microscopic life something to flourish on. Plants were added next. I used anacharis, cabomba, water hyacinth, water lettuce, etc. The water cycled and clear up in about 10 days. Once the water was clear and the night temps were high enough, in went the kissers (usually 6 per pond). I never saw much of them until the fall. I'd drop food on the surface but, the fish stayed hidden until I left. By late summer, I'd notice small fish going after the food. That was my indication that spawning had occurred. When I tore the ponds down in the fall, I usually netted several hundred gouramies out.
As fishdance said, when they 'kiss', thery are actualy fighting, pretty cool eh? So your best bet is that the shyer ones, smaller, and fatter ones are the females.
Does anyone on here know how they spawn? I presume much like a betta were the male squeezes the female. But no bubble nest?
Does anyone on here know how they spawn? I presume much like a betta were the male squeezes the female. But no bubble nest?