Three spot gourami protects aggressively. The three spot gourami is a hardy fish. They can be housed with a variety of tank mates of similar size and temperament. While males can be territorial with each other, they become timid around other, more aggressive fish. Male gouramis are known to be very aggressive; they may also be fin nippers and generally may bother other fish in the tank. They often show aggression toward species with long, flowing fins such as male guppies, goldfish, and bettas, because they display long tails and bright colors, presenting competition for impressing a female gourami. Female gourami sometimes bother
Kissing gourami do not guard, are spherical, smooth, and buoyant. Initial development is rapid: the eggs hatch after one day, and the fry are free-swimming two days thereafter. The kissing gourami does not care for its young. The kissing gourami present a kind of behavior associated with their characteristic jaw and mouth: two individuals approach their mouths in both mediolateral and dorsoventral planes and press for a few seconds. This type of "kiss" has given "H. temminkii" the common name of kissing gourami has been considered an intraspecific aggressive behavior also known as "mouth fight" due to the contraction of the jaw