kissing gouramis? anyone have 'em?

Mori · 09-27-2006, 03:25 PM

Does anyone have experience with the herbivory of kissing gouramis? I have a pair but they've always been kept in the company of plecos who I know eat anything green, so I can't really tell who's doing what. Do they eat algae like they are alleged to? Do they really filter planktonic algae and critters from the water column?

I can't grow algae or plants in their tank so I can't tell what they're capable of eating. They don't seem very popular among any but newbie aquarists, but maybe I'm wrong. It's frustrating that I know so little about a pet I've had for 6 years!

Does anyone keep these things?

XenoMorph2049 · 09-28-2006, 08:45 AM

Not sure about the whole algea thing, but from working at a "Petland", I can tell you they arent the "nicest of fish". There "Kissing" is usually fighting (sizing each other up) or mating if I remeber correctly. Ive seen ALOT of people try to bring them back because some of the "non-aquatic" employees would sell them as "community fish". Now there might be reasons to them being aggressive, such as only a couple in a tank (Ive heard of Tiger Barbs being mellow in groups of 6+, not not often enough to try it), but this has been my experience with them. It has been a few years since then, so I might be a bit off track here, but I dont think so.

Mori · 09-28-2006, 02:20 PM

Thanks for the reply.

I haven't had too much of a problem with aggressive behavior with mine, but I only have two and maybe they're both resigned to their low status in life. They're the small fish in the tank at around 7" long and 3/4" wide. There have been a few times where the tank got warm and they chased another fish, tag-team style, but I think they were feeling spawny and it's not their regular behavior.

saint27 · 09-28-2006, 04:27 PM

I have a couple in my 75g that came with the tank when I bought it used. I still haven't gotten around to planting this tank yet since we are planning on moving soon. But I do have a bunch of Anacharis floating around. I have seen them more than once picking at it. I think they really like guppy grass because I through a bunch of overgrowth from another tank and it was gone a week later. I never realized that gouramis liked to eat plants or maybe it is just this species

Mori · 09-28-2006, 05:45 PM

This species is quite different than the other gouramis. Not only are they more omnivorous (they do enjoy fruits and veggies--I can vouch for that), but they are just about the only gourami that doesn't build a bubble nest or care for their young. And they get pretty big compared to most gouramis, which might be why they are considered a food fish in their native range.

I wonder...when I buy Thai fish sauce, do you think it's made from pressed gouramis?

09-27-2006, 03:25 PM	#1
Mori Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,203	kissing gouramis? anyone have 'em? Does anyone have experience with the herbivory of kissing gouramis? I have a pair but they've always been kept in the company of plecos who I know eat anything green, so I can't really tell who's doing what. Do they eat algae like they are alleged to? Do they really filter planktonic algae and critters from the water column? I can't grow algae or plants in their tank so I can't tell what they're capable of eating. They don't seem very popular among any but newbie aquarists, but maybe I'm wrong. It's frustrating that I know so little about a pet I've had for 6 years! Does anyone keep these things?

09-28-2006, 04:27 PM	#4
saint27 Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: East Helena, MT Posts: 260	I have a couple in my 75g that came with the tank when I bought it used. I still haven't gotten around to planting this tank yet since we are planning on moving soon. But I do have a bunch of Anacharis floating around. I have seen them more than once picking at it. I think they really like guppy grass because I through a bunch of overgrowth from another tank and it was gone a week later. I never realized that gouramis liked to eat plants or maybe it is just this species __________________ High Tech: 75 Gallon - Phoenix Free Audio

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09-28-2006, 08:45 AM	#2
XenoMorph2049 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NW Florida Posts: 135	Not sure about the whole algea thing, but from working at a "Petland", I can tell you they arent the "nicest of fish". There "Kissing" is usually fighting (sizing each other up) or mating if I remeber correctly. Ive seen ALOT of people try to bring them back because some of the "non-aquatic" employees would sell them as "community fish". Now there might be reasons to them being aggressive, such as only a couple in a tank (Ive heard of Tiger Barbs being mellow in groups of 6+, not not often enough to try it), but this has been my experience with them. It has been a few years since then, so I might be a bit off track here, but I dont think so.

09-28-2006, 02:20 PM	#3
Mori Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,203	Thanks for the reply. I haven't had too much of a problem with aggressive behavior with mine, but I only have two and maybe they're both resigned to their low status in life. They're the small fish in the tank at around 7" long and 3/4" wide. There have been a few times where the tank got warm and they chased another fish, tag-team style, but I think they were feeling spawny and it's not their regular behavior.

09-28-2006, 05:45 PM	#5
Mori Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,203	This species is quite different than the other gouramis. Not only are they more omnivorous (they do enjoy fruits and veggies--I can vouch for that), but they are just about the only gourami that doesn't build a bubble nest or care for their young. And they get pretty big compared to most gouramis, which might be why they are considered a food fish in their native range. I wonder...when I buy Thai fish sauce, do you think it's made from pressed gouramis?