why are kissing gouramis called kissing gouramis ??

[Bubble_B0y]

 

[greenmaji]

they lock lips.. it looks like there kissing..

 

[Bubble_B0y]

you mean when they are fighting

 

[greenmaji]

its either a courtship thing or spatting.. depending on the circumstances..

 

[Devilishturtles]

Yup. If you watch them at you LFS for long enough, they'll lock lips. It's pretty neat to see. Usually a little territorial tif amongst they boys.

 

[lmw80]

Exactly. It's like bucks locking antlers. It can be territorial or a show off to get the woman.

 

[Bubble_B0y]

but do they get hurt in the process ???

I mean are their lips just touching ??
or they are actually BITING ??

 

[Devilishturtles]

Nope. No ill effects at all. Their lips just touch. No biting.

 

[Bubble_B0y]

Nope. No ill effects at all. Their lips just touch. No biting.

but they still have the same personality/reputation (fin nippy, aggressive) as any other gourami right ?

 

[rich311k]

Here is some info. They are not related to other gouramis. They do not have a labyrinth organ.

http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/anabantids2/p/kissinggourami.htm

 

[Bubble_B0y]

Here is some info. They are not related to other gouramis. They do not have a labyrinth organ.

http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/anabantids2/p/kissinggourami.htm

what ?? !!
8O

i didn't know that at all.

 

[Bubble_B0y]

 

[Bubble_B0y]

wanna smooch ??

K-I-S-S-I-N-G

 

[rich311k]

I just read a little more. They do have the labyrinth organ but they are not in the same family as all the other gouramis we know and love. My first source was a no good. Broke my own rule and only read one referance.

 

[Bubble_B0y]

i noticed they don't have "feelers" like other gouramis.

and I just read....there is debate as to whether or not they build bubble-nests !
8O

 

[lmw80]

In my experience, I have found kissing gouramis to be much more aggressive than other ones. They also get fairly large, although I don't remember the exact size.

 

[Guest]

They are horrible don't get them... i just got two for my 55 gallon tank and i thought it was so cute that they were kissing... then i see them chasing all the other fish and terrorizing them, including my angels, my female betta, and my tetras. I returened them to the fish store :x

 

[Sati]

We had 2 large kissing gouramis at the vet office I worked at. They weren't very aggressive that I saw, but did do the kissing thing from time to time. There were some large tetras in with them. Nothing snack-sized. It was a peaceful tank to watch.

 

[jrp1588]

I see them kissing all the time...If they didn't get so big I'd get a couple...cool fish

 

[Bubble_B0y]

They are horrible don't get them... i just got two for my 55 gallon tank and i thought it was so cute that they were kissing... then i see them chasing all the other fish and terrorizing them, including my angels, my female betta, and my tetras. I returened them to the fish store :x

oh dear - if its any consolation...it happened to me.
Not with kissing gouramis, but with my dwarf gourami.
He kept chasing my 3 prized angels and biting the tails of my cories.
I moved him out of my tank and now everyone is much happier !!