Kissing gourami

The kissing gourami is a large labyrinth fish of the family Helostomatidae, native to slow and still waters of Thailand, Indonesia and the wider Southeast Asian region. It is best known for the fleshy, protrusible lips that two fish press together in the "kissing" display, which is actually a test of strength between rivals rather than affection. The common aquarium form is pink, though a silvery-green wild form also exists. It is semi-aggressive and can be pushy toward tankmates, and it grows surprisingly large, so it needs a spacious tank and sturdy companions. A roomy aquarium with hardy or artificial plants (as it may eat soft plants) and good filtration suits it. It is an omnivore that grazes on algae and biofilm with its rasping lips and also takes flake, pellets, vegetables and small live foods. It is a prolific egg-scatterer that provides no parental care.