Green Kissing Gourami 5cm

Green Kissing Gourami

There probably isn't another freshwater fish quite as famous for its behaviour as the Kissing Gourami. Despite the name, these fish aren't actually showing affection when they "kiss" — they are establishing dominance and testing one another's strength. Combined with their unique personalities, large size and unusual appearance, it's easy to see why they've remained an aquarium favourite for decades.

The Green Kissing Gourami displays a beautiful pale jade-green to silvery olive body with large reflective scales that shimmer under aquarium lighting. Unlike many gouramis that rely on bright colours, the Green Kissing Gourami has a much more natural beauty, with subtle gold and emerald highlights becoming increasingly noticeable as the fish matures. Their most recognisable feature is their large protruding lips, which they use both for grazing algae and during their famous "kissing" displays with other gouramis. Their tall body and graceful swimming style make them an impressive display fish in larger aquariums.

Sexing Green Kissing Gouramis is extremely difficult, as males and females appear almost identical throughout most of their lives. Breeding in home aquariums is uncommon due to their adult size, although they are bubble nest builders that spawn near the water's surface under suitable conditions.

Tank Recommendations for your Green Kissing Gourami

A minimum aquarium size of 250 litres is recommended due to their eventual adult size of around 30 cm. These fish appreciate spacious aquariums with open swimming areas combined with driftwood and hardy plants. Gentle to moderate water movement and excellent filtration will help maintain water quality as these fish grow.

Suitable Tank Buddies

Green Kissing Gouramis are generally peaceful but become increasingly confident as they mature.

Usually Compatible

Silver dollars, severums, rainbowfish, larger barbs, peaceful catfish and other medium to large community fish that can comfortably match their size.

Sometimes Compatible

Angelfish, blue acara and other peaceful cichlids may coexist successfully, provided the aquarium is spacious and territories are well established.

Rarely Compatible

Very small community fish, aggressive cichlids and highly territorial gouramis should generally be avoided due to size differences and occasional dominance behaviour.

Feeding your Green Kissing Gourami

Green Kissing Gouramis are omnivores with a strong appetite and readily accept almost any aquarium food. A quality floating pellet or flake should form the basis of their diet, supplemented with algae wafers, blanched vegetables and occasional frozen foods such as bloodworms or brine shrimp.