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Balloon Pink Kissing Gourami

Balloon Kissing Gourami

Family: HelostomatidaeBalloon Pink Kissing GouramiHelostoma temminkiiPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy David Brough
Latest Reader Comment - See More
I can easily determine the sexual difference at first sight...(only from adult balloon kissing gouramis)...also I have bred about 1500-2000 fishes at a time.   Jossy

   Balloon Pink Kissing Gourami are a newer fish to the aquarium hobby. They are very cute hardy fish, and an easy aquarium inhabitant to keep!

   The Balloon Pink Kissing Gourami is a mutated strain of the "Pink" Kissing Gourami. The "form" of this gourami is rounder and not quite as laterally compressed. It is this 'balloon' type shape from which it derives its name. It is also smaller than the Kissing Gourami. Like the Kissing Gourami, these fish use their lips and teeth to rasp algae from the surface of rocks or from the glass in the aquarium.

  These fish are quite hardy and have a great appetite but they don't get as large as their counterpart. So they can be kept in a smaller aquarium but still must not be overcrowded as this can stunt their growth.

For more Information on keeping this fish see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Freshwater Aquarium


Geographic Distribution
Helostoma temminkii
Data provided by FishBase.org
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Chordata
  • Class: Actinopterygii
  • Order: Perciformes
  • Family: Helostomatidae

Habitat: Distribution / Background

   The Balloon Pink Kissing Gourami has been developed in captivity and is a mutated strain of the 'pink' color-morph of the Kissing Gourami. Kissing Gouramis are found in the tropical Far East; Thailand, Indonesia, Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Malay Peninsula, and Cambodia where they inhabit slow waters, primarily ponds and marshes with dense vegetation.

  • Scientific Name: Helostoma temminkii
  • Social Grouping: Groups - Can be kept singly, in pairs, or groups. If kept in a group make sure there are plenty of hiding places to keep one or more of the individuals from being bullied.
  • IUCN Red List: - There are no wild populations of this species.

Description

  The Balloon Pink Kissing Gourami is rounder and not quite as laterally compressed, as the Kissing Gourami. It is also smaller. This fish has a labyrinth organ, a part of the fish which allows it to absorb atmospheric oxygen directly into the bloodstream. These fish are pinkish to orangish pink with transparent fins.
   The most distinctive characteristic of both this fish and the Kissing Gourami is the mouth. The mouth has lips that are thick and fleshy with fine teeth on the inner surface. The name 'Kissing" was actually derived from the action of its mouth where it uses it lips and teeth to rasp algae from the surface of rocks or from the glass in the aquarium.

  • Maximum Size: 8.0 inches (20.32 cm) - Although this form of the species rarely exceeds 6 inches, sometimes specimens can reach 8 inches. The Kissing Gourami itself has been known to reach up to 12 inches (30 cm) in the wild.

Fish Keeping Difficulty

  • Aquarium Hardiness: Moderately hardy
  • Aquarist Experience Level: Intermediate

Foods and Feeding

   Since they are omnivores, the Balloon Pink Kissing Gourami will generally eat all kinds of live, fresh, and flake foods. A quality flake or pellet food makes a good base to the diet but it is important to supplement this with meaty foods. Supplementation can include white worms, blood worms, brine shrimp, or any other suitable substitute. Fresh vegetables or vegetable tablets can be offered as well.
   Kissing Gouramis are extremely hardy fish. Although the labyrinth organ allows the fish to survive in oxygen depleted water, it is a common misconception that this makes water changes unnecessary. This is hardly the case, as these fish will suffer the same tissue damage from built up toxins as any other fish. Regular water changes are a must with 25% weekly being recommended.
   As Juveniles this fish can be housed in a 15 - 20 gallon aquarium, but adults will need 30 gallons or more. Plants are not necessary but are appreciated. Keep in mind that they are a natural part of their diet and they have been known to snack on them. Artificial plants can make a handy substitute if you experience this with your fish.

  • Diet Type: Omnivore
  • Flake Food: Yes
  • Tablet Pellet: Yes
  • Live foods (fishes, shrimps, worms): Some of Diet
  • Vegetable Food: Some of Diet
  • Meaty Food: Some of Diet
  • Feeding Frequency: Several feedings per day

Aquarium Care

  • Water Changes: Monthly

Aquarium Setup

  • Minimum Tank Size: 75 gal (284 L)
  • Substrate Type: Any
  • Lighting Needs: Moderate - normal lighting
  • Temperature: 72.0 - 82.0° F (22.2 - 27.8° C) - Keep the surrounding room temperature consistent with the water temperature to avoid causing trauma to the labyrinth organ.
  • Range ph: 6.0-8.8
  • Hardness Range: 5 - 35 dGH
  • Brackish: No
  • Water Movement: Moderate - This fish will be bothered by a strong current in the tank, especially if the tank is small.
  • Water Region: All - The Kissing Gourami primarily inhabits the top and middle areas of the aquarium.

Social Behaviors

   They are generally a good community fish, but when the Balloon Kissing Gourami get older you should keep them only with fish their own size.

  • Temperament: Peaceful
  • Compatible with:
    • Same species - conspecifics: Yes
    • Peaceful fish (): Safe
    • Semi-Aggressive: (): Monitor
    • Slow Swimmers & Eaters: (): Monitor - Gouramis can be quick at feeding time. Make sure any fish that are not so quick get fed if you are keeping them with gouramis.

Sex: Sexual differences

   There are no visible differences between the male and female.

Breeding / Reproduction

   Unlike most of the labyrinth fish, the Balloon Kissing Gourami are not bubble nest builders. Their eggs as well as the fry, are lighter than water and float to the top. See the description of how to breed these fish here, in Breeding Freshwater Fish. Most books on the subject say the Kissing Gourami is harder to breed than most other gouramis.

  • Ease of Propagation: Moderate - The Balloon Kissing Gourami is reputedly harder to breed than other types of gouramis.

Availability

   The Balloon Kissing Gourami is readily available.

References

Animal-World References
Freshwater Fish and Plants Tropical Fish ~ Freshwater Fish ~ Aquatic Plants

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Lastest Comments on Balloon Kissing Gourami

Jossy - 2011-02-18
I can easily determine the sexual difference at first sight...(only from adult balloon kissing gouramis)...also I have bred about 1500-2000 fishes at a time.

Click For Replies (2)
  • Gregg Spurlock - 2011-04-13
    Hi Jossy
    I have 3 Pink Balloon Gouramis, size of sliver dollar do not there sexual
    difference of them. Can you help me to tell the male from female on the
    Pink Balloon Gourami. Thank You.
  • Gregg - 2011-11-21
    Hi I have Qty of (6) Pink Balloon Kissing Gouramis. How can you determine
    the sexual difference? I have had these about 6 months now.
Reply
Tori - 2008-02-02
I just bought a pink balloon gourami today. It was fine up until we put it in the tank. It keeps floating on its side.

Click For Replies (1)
  • Charlie Roche - 2011-08-18
    Check all tank conditions and water ASAP - also look up bloating on Animal World Fish Diseases and Symptoms in case it sounds like that. Check out other symptoms on that article - OK
Reply
renee - 2009-09-12
I have a kissing Gourami that stays at the bottom of the tank, while on its side once in a while we will notice him move to another spot but most of the time stays still. and we never see him upright. we put him in the tank Friday morning (09-11-09)
at 4:30am (CDT). Does anybody know whats wrong?

Reply
fred - 2010-04-21
Its just awful that people breed fish to have deformities such as the balloon variations of species. balloons rarely live half as long as normal fish.

Reply
Jackie - 2010-04-09
My Gourami is about 5 years old - only fish in the tank. He survived the the beating of the other fish when he was young. Then killed them all. He is very happy and knows who feeds him. Clicks the thermometer against the glass if does not get fed timely. Interesting to read about how long they live, and how big they can get. Mine is to size to tank size but I think he would love to be in a pond.

Reply
melissa girling - 2005-12-30
i have had a few problems with one of my balloon kissers, it is as if its being very protective of the other but it keeps attacking my other fish (siamise fighter male and my dwarf female gourami), it has gotten so bad that it has actually sucked a chunk out of the side of one of my other fish! i dont know what to do with it other than return it to the shop where i got it from as i cannot risk it attacking any of my other fish.
melissa u.k

Click For Replies (1)
  • Robert - 2010-03-04
    It's not a great idea to put a siamese fighter in with gouramis because they tend to nip at their long fins. The second problem is kissing gouramis tend to be semi-aggressive and dwarf gouramis aren`t, so the dwarf could get hurt.
Reply

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