Care guide at a glance
Helostoma temminckii
Description
A pale pink gourami with thickened, protruding lips used to rasp surfaces and to spar with rivals in the mouth-to-mouth pushing contest that gives the fish its name.
Feeding
Omnivorous with a strong vegetable requirement. Quality flake and pellets with spirulina, algae wafers and blanched vegetables. Grazes surfaces constantly.
Compatibility
Peaceful when small and increasingly boisterous with size. Will harass smaller fish and rasp at the flanks of slow, flat-bodied tankmates such as discus and angelfish. Best with robust medium-sized fish.
Behaviour and personality
Grazes constantly on any available surface. Breathes atmospheric air at the surface via the labyrinth organ. The kissing behaviour is a trial of strength between rivals, not affection.
Before you buy
Frequently sold at 5 cm as a novelty community fish and reaches 20-25 cm. It needs a large tank, and it will eat soft plants and graze the slime coat of flat-bodied tankmates.
Livestock Delivery
DX courier delivery is £29.95 per livestock order.
Free delivery when your livestock subtotal is over £350.
Delivery is scheduled for your selected delivery date and typically arrives before 1pm.
There is no minimum order value.
Additional information:
- In-stock livestock orders will be processed and dispatched for delivery on the date selected on the cart/basket page.
- Available delivery days are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.
- If any stock issues affect your chosen delivery date, we will contact you as soon as possible by email or telephone.
- Shipping for dry goods is charged separately from livestock delivery and does not count towards the £350 free delivery threshold. Dry goods are dispatched according to our standard delivery policy.