Kissing gourami spawn once a year. Females initiate matings and only mate with one male per spawn. They do not seem to show any mate choice and do not keep the same mate for future spawnings. (Christensen, 1992; Pethiyagoda, 1991)

 

Mating System: Polygynandrous (promiscuous)

 

Helostoma temmincki are oviparous and dioecious and demonstrate external fertilization. They spawn once a year at the beginning of the rainy season. Adults migrate through rivers into shallow lakes or flooded forests to spawn. A female initiates mating and she and the male fish turn almost upside down before simultaneously releasing the eggs and sperm. Females release on average 1000 eggs. Eggs are usually small compared to other freshwater species and have an oil droplet to increase buoyancy. Fertilized eggs float to the surface and usually attach to floating vegetation. The eggs develop into fry that become free swimming after two days. Kissing gourami reach sexual maturity at three to five years of age. (Christensen, 1992; Davis, 1959; Pethiyagoda, 1991)

 

Key Reproductive Features: Seasonal breeding; Gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); Sexual; Fertilization; Fertilization :: External; Broadcast (group) spawning; Oviparous

Kissing gourami breed once yearly>p

The breeding season is the beginning of the rainy season (May)>p 

Besides the investment of energy that goes into spawning, Helostoma temmincki do not invest in their offspring. Unlike closely related species, kissing gourami do not build nests or care for their young. (Riehl and Baensch, 1991; Sterba, 1983)

 

Parental Investment: No parental involvement