Why Do Kissing Gouramis Kiss? Uncovering the Reasons Behind the Kissing Behavior
The kissing gourami, also known as the kisser fish, kissing fish, kissing gourami, and honey kiss fish, is native to Thailand, Indonesia, Sumatra and other places. It is a common ornamental fish and belongs to the small ornamental fish among ornamental fish varieties. It gets its name because two fish kiss each other and is loved by many fish keepers, symbolizing lasting love. Now let us take a look at why kissing gouramis kiss!
Why do kissing gouramis kiss?
Many people are moved by the “sweet kissing” behavior of kissing gouramis and think it is an expression of romance and happiness, but the truth is exactly the opposite. The kissing between kissing gouramis is not an interpretation of friendship, nor an expression of love, but a kind of fighting behavior. Kissing gouramis have a habit of protecting their territory, and when two fish collide, fighting behavior occurs. Their mouths are their attacking weapons, and kissing is the way they fight each other. The battle between two kissing fish is definitely not just for show; their fighting attitude is firm and they never back down. The standard for the end of the fight is when one side retreats and loses.
How do you tell male and female kissing gouramis apart?
Male and female kissing gouramis are not easy to distinguish. Juveniles are almost impossible to identify as male or female. In adults, the male's anal fin is generally wide and long, and the body appears somewhat slender, while the female's anal fin is narrow, the body is broad and thick, and the abdomen is slightly bulging. When the female reaches sexual maturity, the abdomen swells because it is full of eggs, which is very obvious when viewed from the top of the aquarium downward.
What food do kissing gouramis eat?
Kissing gouramis have omnivorous feeding habits. Although they are a large fish species, they are generally not interested in large water fleas, and often they must open their big mouths for a long time to “drink” some small water fleas in order to eat their fill. This is also a special feeding method of tropical fish. When kept, they also like to use their thick lips to suck on the algae on the tank walls and aquatic plants, so when keeping fish, people often put one kissing gourami in each tank as a “scavenger”. Under artificial rearing conditions, kissing gouramis do not have a fixed breeding season, and breeding is relatively simple. It is best to keep them in pairs and feed them heavily to aid breeding.