Lifespan of Pink Gourami (best, along, size, small)

[Ally315]

I've had my pink kissing gourami, Odie, for about 18 years now. He lives alone in a 30 gallon tank and is about 10 inches long. I'm just curious if this is normal for a pink kisser to live this long. I've had him since I was 8 years old and he's outlived the dog, bird, and all the little rodents, lizards, and other fish. He's a legend in my family and I always picture him breaking some sort of pink gourami world record

[Enmity]

If that's true, that's amazing. You should call somebody. Although it's hard to prove a fish's age. I think they only live about 8 years tops.

[tom3terrific]

Our "Kissy" is taking his / her last breath tonite...so I searched for other stories about these neat fish.
Ours never could get along with smaller fish (just gobbled them up). Managed to go off to college with one of our son's. Not once, twice. In an ice chest. In the back of a pick-up truck. Best we can recall, we know one of our son's friends "donated" the fish to us when they were tired of having an aquarium. That was about 21 years ago. So, we REALLY don't know how old. No papers... Can't even think about what to do with the aquarium right now. TL

[foxywench]

the "average" lifespan of an aquarium gourami is only 5-7 years...BUT in the right conditions the family as a whole can live 50 years if not longer, theres been no real studies done simply because it can vary so much, a fish in the wild isnt nessicarily going to live to its full expectance, but neither is a fish in an aquarium. from my research ive seen and read baout gourami in the 25yr+ categorywhen properly cared for and given the best care possible in an artifical environment...

[andthentherewere3]

I have an opaline gourami that is only 4 years old, I guess I had better get used to having him for a lot longer! Sorry to hear you have lost your "Kissy" tom3terrific, he sure lived a long and obviously happy life.

[Romeo_Pompay69]

Originally Posted by Ally315

I've had my pink kissing gourami, Odie, for about 18 years now. He lives alone in a 30 gallon tank and is about 10 inches long. I'm just curious if this is normal for a pink kisser to live this long. I've had him since I was 8 years old and he's outlived the dog, bird, and all the little rodents, lizards, and other fish. He's a legend in my family and I always picture him breaking some sort of pink gourami world record

These fish live a really long time, They don't really do well with other kissing fish. I just buried my 26 year old pink kissing fish and just replaced him or her with a new 2" pink kissing fish. These fish are a long term commitment. enjoy

[BostonMike7]

They do live a long time if cared for properly. 25+ years is not unheard of.



However, not to be that guy, but I would not keep a 10" fish in a 30 gal aquarium. A 30gal is the min size for a single full grown Gourami, but a 55gal would be recommended.