Kissing Gourami's

[Wyld-Fyre]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone knew if all Gourami's 'kiss', or is it just the 'Kissing Gourami' variety only?

For Kissing Gourami's, I've read that two males would 'kiss' each other as a sign of aggression. So, in saying that, I've got a male and a female and they're also 'kissing'. Is this natural, or are they having an argument?

Here's hoping it is affection.

 

[xXMrBonesXx]

i have no clue what so ever but i always have to stop at the kissing gourami tank at my LFS and watch them kiss )

 

[shadow]

as far as i know, kissing gourami's make the kissing to show that another is in their territory.

 

[Dwarfs]

It's fighting

 

[Doggfather]

It's mostly likley fighting.

Kissing Gouramis do kiss as a pre spawning ritual, but they sexually mature when they're quite large, so unless you have some fairly big gourami, it's territorial.

 

[ryan]

This fish is usually kept for their novel way of testing each other's strength. The kissing action is not, as we may suppose, a sign of affection between male and female, but a trail of strength between two males, and forms part of a courtship ritual as they try to impress a suitable female.

The sexes are virtually impossible to distinguish so how do you know you have a male and female?

 

[Gourami Lover88]

They also use the kissing motion to clean alge of of plants and tank walls. Infact they do a better job then my pleco

 

[Wyld-Fyre]

I have two of these Kissing Gourami's, at least I think that's what they are as I've not found info on any other types 'kissing'.

They're both of a similar size, but one is much more colourful than the other. They both have an orangey/pearl colouration, but the male has vivid electric blue stripes running diagonally down its sides and fins/tail.

On most instances, they swim alongside each, and on rare occassions seperately. Once, I did see them 'court' each other.

I thought, this 'kissing' only occurred amongst territorial males, not amongst male/female 'pairings'. Could it be they're having relationship problems?

Hmmm, should I keep them in a private tank of their own, and hope for the best? (catch my drift!)

Size of both fish: 2'' snout to tail-end
Algae-eating: have not seen any evidence of this

 

[Gourami Lover88]

If there only 2" they are probably not courting, I think they need to be rather big for them to become mature.

 

[Wyld-Fyre]

Agree with you Gourami Lover88. As your nickname suggests, you know more about these types of fishes than I, do you think I have one male and one female?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi kribsinvcrib

I'm starting to wonder if the fish you have are actually kissing gouramis after all. Here is a link with a picture of them:

http/www.brooklands.co.nz/tropical/kissing_gourami.htm

 

[Gourami Lover88]

Yes Inchworm when kribsincrib "vivid electric blue stripes" that got me thinking that he might not have a kissing gourami

does your fish look like the first or the second?

 

[Wyld-Fyre]

Oh dang it!

Gourami Lover88, unfortunately, neither look like the one's I've got. They're definitely Gourami's (got the same standard shape with feelers), and they're definitely 'kissing', so I wonder what they could really be?

Back to my original question. Do other kinds of Gourami's 'kiss'?
Does anyone know what type of Gourami's I've got?
Are my Gourami's some type of variation of the Kissing Gourami?

Inchworm, I've checked the other Gourami descriptions in the link you've provided, but has not proven fruitful. Here's a pic of the 'male' Gourami I've got, he's just been rudely awakened from his sleep. Hopefully, you can see the colouration.

Appreciated

 

[Gourami Lover88]

That is either a moonlight, or a pale honey gourami.My honey gourami do nip eachother so that could look like there kissing.

 

[Wyld-Fyre]

Could be. Here's a link to a site I've checked out...

http/www.aquazoo.co.uk/page.cfm/Type=Fish/ID=266

Neither of my fishes have the black patch underneath the bottom region of the fish. However, the sizing is about right. Shame about the colour descriptions provided by this site. Sigh!