Gourami whereas others ("Parosphromenus" and "Sphaerichthys", for instance) are very shy or have specific water requirements and thus will be outcompeted by typical community fish. The name "gourami" is used of several other related fish that are now placed in different families: Gourami Gouramis, or gouramies , are a group of freshwater anabantiform fishes that comprise the family Osphronemidae. The fish are native to Asia—from Pakistan and India to the Malay Archipelago and northeasterly towards Korea. The name "gourami", of Javanese origin, is also used for fish of the families Helostomatidae and Anabantidae. Many gouramis have an elongated, feeler-like ray at
Kissing gourami By increasing the angle of opening of the jaw, this joint allows kissing gourami to access to these nutrients. "H. temminkii", however, is the only species known that uses this articulation in this way. The intramandibular joint divides the jaw into two independent elements so that it increases the degrees of freedom and the potential number of ways of getting food. This articulation, although its mechanism and anatomy are still being studied in a hurry, results in an adaptation of Helodoma temminkii and its feeding. Shallow, slow-moving, and thickly vegetated backwaters are the kissing gourami's natural habitat. They are midwater