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Last update: April 24, 2023

15 Best Kissing Gourami Tank Mates – FishLab

The kissing gourami is a popular aquarium fish due to its colorful bodies, energetic temperament, and ease of care. Their large lips are their most prominent feature, lending this unique fish its common name. Kissing gourami fish are a great addition to any freshwater aquarium. 

However, kissing gourami are classified as semi-aggressive, meaning that they may attack and bully other fish – especially smaller, slow-moving species. This is important to consider when choosing tank mates, as any species added to the same tank as a kissing gourami will need to stand its ground and often be larger than the kissing gourami, eliminating itself as prey. 

Kissing Gourami Tank Mates – What you Need to Know

The 15 best kissing gourami tank mates are as follows: 

  • Angelfish
  • Yoyo Loach
  • Chinese Algae Eaters
  • Archerfish
  • Rosy Barb
  • Swordtails
  • Tiger Barb
  • Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid
  • Congo Tetra
  • Pictus Catfish
  • Red Eye Tetra
  • Cherry Barb
  • Clown Loach
  • Kuhli Loach
  • Yellow Dwarf Cichlid

Read on to learn more about the 15 best kissing gourami tank mates and a little more about this unique, pucker-mouthed aquarium fish.

Temperament

Kissing gourami fish are classified as semi-aggressive, meaning they may attack and bully other fish. They are omnivorous, meaning they eat both plants and meat, so they won’t think twice about preying on a much smaller fish. 

As with most aquarium fish, overcrowding will only exacerbate your kissing gourami’s aggressive behavior, so make sure to get a tank big enough to give your kissing gourami – and its tank mates – plenty of room.

Your tank mates will need to be semi-aggressive so as not to fall vulnerable to kissing gourami’s attacks. Kissing gourami won’t prey on fish that will fight back, and you’ll likely have peace in your aquarium. Adding decorations to the aquarium is vital, as it gives your fish places to hide if your kissing gourami – or its tank mates begin displaying bullying behavior. 

When a kissing gourami attacks another fish, it isn’t always obvious. The kissing gourami will push against other fish with its protruding lips or nibble at the sides of other fish. 

While the kissing gourami nibbling at the sides and fins of other fish may not appear very aggressive, the kissing gourami is actually eating away at the protective mucus layer on the sides of vulnerable fish. Without this mucus layer, your fish becomes vulnerable to disease, infection, and parasites. 

When bullying behavior becomes apparent and isn’t resolved by changing tank mates or tank setup, the best course of action is to place the aggressor in a separate tank. 

Size

Kissing gourami can often grow up to 12 inches in length in the wild, but in captivity, they rarely grow more than 6 inches long. This is believed to be due to the smaller tanks stunting the growth of these fish. 

Despite their relatively small size, kissing gouramis need a large tank to accomodate their active and energetic personalities. A tank that is too small will cause them to become more aggressive than usual and stress your fish, which can lead to illness and premature death. 

Competition

Since kissing gouramis are seen as semi-aggressive fish, it may seem like a natural move to keep them in a one-species aquarium solely consisting of members of its own kind. However, bullying is usually seen when there is more than one male kissing gourami in a tank. 

Having a single male kissing gourami in a tank with tank mates of separate species may work best. If you choose to have more than one gourami, make sure to only have one male if you don’t want to see constant fighting. 

Water Parameters ; Tank Setup

Kissing gouramis are hardy fish that can withstand a broad range of water parameters. They are freshwater fish that prefer slow moving water, plenty of plants, and can survive with low oxygen. Their ability to tolerate low oxygen is due to their unique labyrinth organ, which provides them the ability to store as much oxygen as possible from their surroundings.

The minimum tank size for a kissing gourami is 50 gallons. Bigger is better with kissing gouramis, and 75 gallons is highly recommended if you want to include several tank mates.

These fish are active and energetic, requiring plenty of space to swim around. Placing your kissing gourami in a tank that’s too small will stress them, which will lead to them becoming far more aggressive than usual to their tank mates. Overcrowding also stresses your fish, which makes them susceptible to disease, illness, and premature death. 

Adding plenty of decor, such as rocks, driftwood, and live plants, will help your kissing gourami and its tank mates feel more at ease since there will be hiding places that mimic its natural habitat.   

  • Water temperature: 72 – 82 degrees Fahrenheit
  • pH: 6.8 – 8.5 (the closest to neutral, the better)
  • Water hardness: 5 to 20 dGH

15 Best Kissing Gourami Tank Mates

You also shouldn’t miss these other popular picks in this category:

1. Angelfish

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  • Scientific Name: Pterophyllum scalare
  • Adult Size: 6 inches long and 8 inches wide
  • Compatible with: Fish of different species of a similar size
  • Care Level: Moderate
  • Origin: Colombia, Peru, French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, Brazil 

These elegant fish are one of the most popular species in freshwater aquariums due to their colorful patterns and elegant, flowing fins.  

Pros of keeping with Kissing Gourami

  • Beautiful and peaceful, especially with tank mates of different species. 

Cons of keeping with Kissing Gourami

  • Territorial and semi-aggressive, especially the males during breeding season. 

2. Yoyo Loach

 

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  • Scientific Name: Botia almorhae   
  • Adult Size: 2.5 inches
  • Compatible with: Peaceful fish that occupy the upper half of the tank, as yoyo loaches will usually stay near the bottom. 
  • Care Level: Beginner
  • Origin: Ganges basin in north India and Nepal  

With bold stripes and a fun personality, it’s no surprise that the yoyo loach is a popular component of freshwater aquariums. While they can be aggressive with each other, they’re usually quite content with peaceful members of other freshwater species.

Pros of keeping with Kissing Gourami

  • Energetic, active, and beautiful with a net-like pattern and conical head shape. Easy to care for. They have a long lifespan, able to live between 5 – 8 years in captivity – though there are many reports of the yoyo loach living even longer in the right conditions. 

Cons of keeping with Kissing Gourami

  • They need a minimum tank size of 40 gallons to accommodate their active and energetic dispositions. Very susceptible to disease and will be one of the first fish species to become ill. 

3. Chinese Algae Eaters

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  • Scientific Name: Gyrinocheilus aymonieri 
  • Adult Size: 6 – 11 inches
  • Compatible with: fish of a similar size that occupy the upper half of the tank, such as gouramis, barbs, tetras, and danios. 
  • Care Level: Expert
  • Origin: Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam

Like other algae eaters, these timid fish contribute to a clean aquarium by consuming the algae that naturally builds up in freshwater aquariums. Chinese algae eaters aren’t showy fish, preferring to hide and hang out at the bottom of the tank.

Pros of keeping with Kissing Gourami

  • Helps keep the tank clean by eating debris from the substrate. 

Cons of keeping with Kissing Gourami

  • Needs a lot of space to curb naturally aggressive behavior. Aggressive with large, peaceful fish such as angelfish and will try and suck off their protective mucus layer.

4. Archerfish

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  • Scientific Name: Toxotes jaculatrix 
  • Adult Size: 5 – 7 inches
  • Compatible with: Peaceful fish of similar size. 
  • Care Level: Moderate
  • Origin: India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Melanesia, Southeast Asia, Northern Australia

The archerfish is named for its unique hunting ability, as it squirts water from its mouth towards insects above the water. The insects fall to the surface of the water, where the archerfish then eats them.

Pros of keeping with Kissing Gourami

  • Generally peaceful with fish of a similar size. 

Cons of keeping with Kissing Gourami 

  • Archerfish prefer live prey, so they can be difficult and expensive to feed. They are also aggressive with smaller fish and need to be in groups to curb aggression. 

5. Rosy Barb

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  • Scientific Name: Puntius conchonius     
  • Adult Size: 5.5 inches
  • Compatible with: Other peaceful fish that prefer to be in groups
  • Care Level: Moderate
  • Origin: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Afghanistan

Named for its bold pink color, the rosy barb is a schooling fish that resembles a pink goldfish. While they can be shy when by themselves, they are outgoing and social with those of their own kind.

Pros of keeping with Kissing Gourami 

  • Beautiful and eye-catching pink color, great community fish, generally peaceful. Hardy fish that tolerate a range of water parameters. 

Cons of keeping with Kissing Gourami 

  • Need to be in groups of no less than five to curb aggression. 

6. Swordtails

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  • Scientific Name: Xiphophorus helleri
  • Adult Size: 5.5 inches
  • Compatible with: Peaceful fish of similar size
  • Care Level: Beginner 
  • Origin: North and Central America

Pros of keeping with Kissing Gourami 

  • Easy to care for, colorful, and hardy. 

Cons of keeping with Kissing Gourami

  •  Prefer very hard and slightly alkaline water.

7. Tiger Barb

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  1. Scientific Name: Puntigrus tetrazona / Barbus tetrazona 
  2. Adult Size: 3 inches
  3. Compatible with: Peaceful fish that won’t mistake it for food
  4. Care Level: Beginner
  5. Origin: Southeast Asia, Sumatra, Indonesia, and Borneo

Named for its bold black stripes against a pale body, the tiger barb is active, attractive, and easy to care for. It is among the most popular freshwater aquarium species.

Pros of keeping with Kissing Gourami 

  • Big personality and easy to care for. Beautiful color and patterns that make them one of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish. 

Cons of keeping with Kissing Gourami  

  • Relatively small compared to the kissing gourami and might be bullied or mistaken for food.

8. Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid

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  • Scientific Name: Apistogramma cacatuoides 
  • Adult Size: 2 – 3 inches
  • Compatible with: Peaceful fish of a similar size that won’t mistake it for food. 
  • Care Level: Moderate
  • Origin: Amazon River Basin in South America

While most cichlids are best kept in single species aquariums, the cockatoo dwarf cichlid is one exception. Its flowy orange fins and diminutive size lend this species its colorful name.

Pros of keeping with Kissing Gourami

  • Beautiful colorations make the cockatoo dwarf cichlid an attractive addition to a freshwater aquarium. Hardy and can withstand a broad range of water parameters. 

Cons of keeping with Kissing Gourami 

  • Primarily carnivorous and require live prey. Can become aggressive with smaller fish, and may need to be in small groups. 

9. Congo Tetra

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  • Scientific Name: Phenacogrammus interruptus 
  • Adult Size: 3 – 3.5 inches
  • Compatible with:  Most peaceful species of freshwater aquarium fish that won’t mistake it for food.
  • Care Level: Beginner
  • Origin: Congo River basin in Africa

This easygoing schooling fish is active and fun to observe in a freshwater aquarium. The Congo Tetra is one of the most peaceful species, but will become stressed when around fish that exhibit aggression.

Pros of keeping with Kissing Gourami

  • Easy to care for, adaptable, and hardy. Peaceful, active fish that get along with a wide range of tank mates. 

Cons of keeping with Kissing Gourami

  • Congo tetras are schooling fish and therefore need to be purchased in small groups. Larger kissing gourami fish may mistake smaller Congo tetras for food.

10. Pictus Catfish

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  • Scientific Name: Pimelodus pictus 
  • Adult Size: 5 inches
  • Compatible with: Other catfish species; peaceful fish of the same size, such as gouramis, loaches, and angelfish that occupy upper portion of the tank
  • Care Level: Beginner
  • Origin: Orinoco and Amazon River basins in South America

With long whiskers and a body patterned with bold black polka dots, the pictus catfish is a cute and popular freshwater species that gets along well with other peaceful fish

Pros of keeping with Kissing Gourami 

  • Beautiful, peaceful, easy to care for, and will keep your tank clean. 

Cons of keeping with Kissing Gourami

  • Active and need a lot of space and decoration to thrive. Long whiskers may be bitten or nipped by more aggressive tank mates. 

11. Red Eye Tetra

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  • Scientific Name: Moenkhausia sanctaefilomenae 
  • Adult Size: 2 – 3 inches
  • Compatible with: Peaceful fish of similar size
  • Care Level: Beginner
  • Origin: Paraguay and Uruguay

Named for the bright red ring that surrounds its eye, lending a sharp contrast to its pale, shiny body, the red eye tetra is a schooling fish that does best in groups of six or more.

Pros of keeping with Kissing Gourami

  • Generally peaceful and active, easy to care for. 

Cons of keeping with Kissing Gourami

  • Red eye tetras are schooling fish and need to be purchased in groups of three or more. Larger gouramis may mistake the small red eye tetra fish for food. Aggressive if alone. 

12. Cherry Barb

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  • Scientific Name: Puntius titteya 
  • Adult Size: 10 – 11 inches
  • Compatible with: Peaceful freshwater fish of similar size. 
  • Care Level: Easy 
  • Origin: Sri Lanka, Mexico, and Colombia

With a bright red or orange body, the common name of this easygoing and peaceful aquarium fish comes as no surprise.

Pros of keeping with Kissing Gourami

  •  Easy to care for, beautiful red coloration, and generally peaceful. 

Cons of keeping with Kissing Gourami

  •  Can grow quite large and needs a lot of space to swim around. Best kept in a minimum group of five. 

13. Clown Loach

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  • Scientific Name: Chromobotia macracanthus 
  • Adult Size: 10 – 11 inches
  • Compatible with: Peaceful freshwater fish of similar size
  • Care Level: Moderate
  • Origin: Indonesia, Sumatra, Borneo

This boldly patterned black and orange fish is most active in the early morning, preferring low light to brightly lit aquariums.

Pros of keeping with Kissing Gourami 

  • Peaceful and beautiful 

Cons keeping with Kissing Gourami 

  • Can be difficult to care for and can grow quite large; needs a minimum tank size of 100 gallons. Can be aggressive when stressed and needs to be gradually acclimated to the tank. 

14. Kuhli Loach

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  • Scientific Name: Pangio kuhlii  
  • Adult Size: 4 inches
  • Compatible with: Other peaceful freshwater fish of similar size 
  • Care Level: Moderate 
  • Origin: Indonesia

This long-lived loach resembles a small, striped eel and is a great cleaner fish. Its easy going personality makes it get along well with most peaceful freshwater aquarium species.

Pros of keeping with Kissing Gourami 

  • Will actively avoid kissing gourami, so it’s unlikely they will get into a fight. Unique eel-like body structure and attractive striped pattern. 

Cons of keeping with Kissing Gourami

  • Can be difficult to care for. Extremely shy, will hide behind decorations. Can become aggressive when confronted by more social fish. 

15. Yellow Dwarf Cichlid

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  • Scientific Name: Apistogramma borellii
  • Adult Size: 2 – 3 inches
  • Compatible with: Fish of a similar size that won’t mistake it for food
  • Care Level: Moderate 
  • Origin: Brazil, Paraguay, northern Argentina

The bright yellow, flowy fins of this small fish lend it its colorful name. It is classified as a peaceful species, though it may become aggressive with members of its own kind during spawning.

Pros of keeping with Kissing Gourami 

  • Hardy fish that can tolerate a broad range of water parameters, also an attractive addition to an aquarium due to its bright colors and active temperament. 

Cons of keeping with Kissing Gourami 

  • This smaller cichlid species may be mistaken for food by the larger kissing gourami. 

Summary

Your kissing gourami is an active fish that requires a large tank and decoration that mimics its natural habitat. While it can be aggressive, choose tank mates that are either larger or of similar size of your kissing gourami to avoid conflict – many of which are included in our guide for best kissing gourami tank mates. 

FAQs

Can gouramis live with other gouramis? 

Gouramis do best in tanks where they are the only gourami. Two males in the same tank will fight constantly. If you choose to add more than one gourami in a tank, make it a group of one male and two or more females to avoid aggression. 

What species are compatible with kissing gouramis? 

Peaceful fish of the same size or larger will coexist well in a tank with kissing gouramis. Don’t add any fish smaller than 1.5 inches, or your gouramis may mistake them for food. 

Are cichlids good tank mates for kissing gouramis?

Smaller cichlid species, such as the yellow dwarf cichlid and the cockatoo dwarf cichlid, are compatible tank mates for kissing gourami. Larger species should be avoided, as they may bully and attack your kissing gourami. 

Ian Sterling

Ian Sterling, founder of Fishlab.com, began his aquarium journey over 30 years ago, driven by a deep fascination for fish and their diverse personalities. His website, Fishlab.com, is dedicated to making fishkeeping accessible and enjoyable, offering beginner-friendly guidance, expert insights, and a community for aquarists to connect and share experiences.

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