Stuffed Animals

One of the advantages of kissing gouramis is that they are easy to care for. However, there are various factors that have to be taken into consideration, while raising them in an aquarium. They include the size of the tank, feeding, compatible tank mates, breeding, etc.
•One of the primary aquarium requirements of kissing fish is sufficient space. As they tend to grow bigger in a very short span, you have to keep them in big fish tanks. A 30-gallon tank or larger ones are suggested for raising this fish. Ensure that the bottom of the tank has a good amount of gravel and stones.
•Even the water conditions must be monitored. You can use soft or moderately hard water with a pH of 6.5 to 8.5. The hardness of water must be between 5 to 30 dGH (use soft water, while they breed). The water must have a temperature of 72 to 82 degree Fahrenheit.
•Make sure that these fish get enough space and lots of natural and artificial vegetation, in the tank. In case of natural plants, go for strong and sturdy ones like Java fern or Java moss (inedible), as tender plants may be consumed by them, in whole. These fish must have access to the water surface, as they take in oxygen from the air (in between).
•One of the important aspects of kissing gourami fish care is the choice of tank mates. As they are sometimes aggressive, it is always better to keep them with slightly larger fish. Kissing gouramis may also feed on smaller fish in the tank. They may also bully other fish and ‘kiss’ them. This may result in loss of protective mucus layer on the skin (of the other fish) that becomes prone to infection, leading to death. Ideal kissing gourami fish tank mates are cichlids, catfish, clown loach, silver dollar fish and barbs.
•As far as kissing gourami diet is concerned, you must understand that they are omnivores that feed on a wide range of foods. They are also algae eaters, who suck in the algae growing on the stones and inner surfaces of the tank. It will be better not to clean the back glass of the fish tank, as these fish can feed on the algae growing on it.
•You may feed kissing fish with algae-based flakes, frozen or freeze-dried live food like, bloodworm, brine shrimp and tubifex. Even live insects (small), glassworms and earthworms may be offered as food for this fish. Kissing fish may also be fed with cooked (parboiled) lettuce, peas, zucchini, etc. Uneaten food must be removed soon, as it may make the water foul.
•For breeding kissing gourami, a large (separate) tank with soft water is required. Offer them with live food and maintain the temperature level at 80 degree Fahrenheit. The male fish wraps its body around that of the female, who releases eggs into water. The male fertilizes them, as they float to the surface.
•It is better to remove the parent fish, once the spawning is finished. This is to save the young ones, as the adults are found to feed on them. You may also cover up the eggs with some floating vegetation or lettuce leaves. This acts like an anchor to the fry that can also feed on the bacteria growing on the leaves.
•It takes only a day for the eggs to hatch. The fry will start swimming in another day or two. You have to feed them with live food like brine shrimp (newly hatched ones) or fine flakes.
The above said is only a brief overview about kissing gourami – the kissing fish. If you are really interested in growing these fish, it is always better to gain a thorough knowledge about them, beforehand. You may collect such information from breeders or those experienced in raising kissing fish. If properly taken care of, kissing gourami may live up to five or six years.