Snakeskin gourami moves back to rivers as floodwaters recede. Snakeskin gourami generally feed on aquatic insect and other small living organism in its habitat. Like other labyrinth fish, it can breathe air directly, as well as absorb oxygen from water through its gills. Compared to other gourami species, the snakeskin gourami is less frequently sold as aquarium fish but is more commonly used as food fish in their native lands. The snakeskin gourami is a highly economic species that is captured and cultured for food and for export for the aquarium trade. It is one of the five most important aquacultured freshwater
Kissing gourami muscles. However, it is not completely confirmed that it is an aggressive behavior and is rather understood as a ritualized form of aggression. "Helostoma temminkii" can become the host tosome parasitic algal species. These algae are able to survive under kissing gourami skin and look like color spots. Some hypothesis affirm that these algae communities receive some nutrients required for photosynthesis from the "H. temminkii." The individuals which have these parasites in their bodies are commonly less healthy than those which have not any algae parasites. "H. temminkii" are able to communicate between each other due to their complex inner