What are the characteristics and care methods of the kissing gourami?
The kissing gourami is also known as the kissing fish, fragrant kiss fish, kissy fish, lip-kissing fish, and so on. It belongs to the family Osphronemidae. It is native to the region of Indonesia. The body is oval and laterally compressed, the caudal fin is slightly concave in the middle, and the body length can reach 20 cm. The fish body is milky white, all fins are transparent and slightly pale white, and the tip of the snout is light flesh-red. The suitable water temperature is 22°C-26°C, and it prefers slightly acidic soft water. The kissing gourami often uses its mouth to constantly scrape and eat algae and moss on aquatic plants and tank walls, and has long enjoyed the reputation of the aquarium's "cleaner." It has a labyrinth organ. The lips of the kissing gourami are covered with many serrated small teeth. When two kissing gourami meet, they press their mouths together in a colliding kiss for a long time. Not only do males and females kiss, but individuals of the same sex also kiss. According to expert research, this is a struggle to defend territory. The kissing gourami is easy to keep and has no strict requirements for water quality. It likes weakly acidic soft water and can live very well in water above 18°C. It never attacks other species of tropical fish and is suitable for mixed keeping with tropical fish that have the same living habits. Omnivorous.