mry3.2008

I have 8 kissing fish and 6 have grown quite "bulky" (they are 4-5") and have a protruding "forehead" almost like a large "lump". Is this normal? The other two have remained small and look like the ones I have researched. Thanks to anyone that can share some info.

lisamorie

can you post pictures? from what you said it's hard to tell if they are sick with something or if you were sold a different kind of fish? how long have you had them? it almost sounds like you have giant pink gouramis? do they look anything like this?

Attached Images

osphronemus_small.jpg (1.7 KB, 38 views)

mry3.2008

Hi - Thanks for your reply! I do have pics but they are apparently the size exceeds the forums limit! Yes, they do look like the one you attached. I have had them for approx. 1 1/2 years. they were not a fish I sought out to purchase, I had "aquired" them so to say! I found they are quite aggressive fish. I had to move them from my large community tank (with the exception of 1 small one I couldnt catch) tank with a variety of tropicals, (many which have been content for 8+ years) as it did not take these ones long to lower the population!
They appear to be quite happy & healthy. Do they grow larger than the kissing fish statistics?

Shawnie

mry3.2008 just resize your pics then you can upload them..either that you can use a hosting site like photobucket or something to host it then just paste the link

Gozer_1

If they are giant pink kissers you have potentially VERY large fish on your hands. I have seen 2 ft long Pink Kissers at the Denver Downtown Aquarium. Now that's a "bulky" fish. Seems most sites say 12 inches with 4-5 being the norm. Like I said, 2 ft or atleast very close to it at the aquarium. The lump is normal. Kinda get to be fairly "ugly" fishes. Have fun with those is all I can say.

mry3.2008

thanks again! attached is pic

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	kissing_fish2[1] (2).jpg (143.5 KB, 5 views)
	kissing fish (2).jpg (163.8 KB, 5 views)

lisamorie

if that is what you have, look up Osphronemus gourami on google and you find lots of stuff about them. from what i have seen, they can live up to 25 years and in the wild can get about 30lbs... they are huge fish! there are pink versions... everything i have found says they should be a foot long, but i am kinda curious about yours because they are only 4-5 inches after a year and a half?

after seeing the pictures of yours, i am wondering if they are gourami at all? do they swim to the top periodically to breathe? and they are seemingly agressive... i'm kinda wondering if they are Midas Cichlids? here are a couple of pics i found online, what do you think?

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	fishtank02.jpg (45.5 KB, 2 views)
	midas_cichlid_brasil.jpg (31.7 KB, 1 views)
	Red_DevilAQ.jpg (6.5 KB, 1 views)

Gozer_1

I must agree. The too photos look very much alike.

mry3.2008

I viewed a photo gallery of the cichlids, they do appear very similar with the exception of the tail fin. The cichlid tail fin appears to be 'rounded" and much smaller, whereas mine are more "pointed" with the outer part longer and center concave. Hope my description makes sense!! I will attempt to take/post a clearer picture of the tail fin.

Gozer_1

Cichlids often have tail differences between sexes. The males often have pointier fins with the round obviously being female. Gouramis can be the same, however. My vote sticks with Midas.

lisamorie

i dunno-- mystery fish!!

maybe you should post your pics on the cichlid page and see if anyone can identify them?

the thing is, if they are giant gouramis, they should be so much bigger by now, shouldn't they? do they go to the top of the aquarium to breathe? all gouramis do that cause they have a labyrinth lung.