Your advice for the gold fish swimming/floating/hangin’ around upside-down position was great! I immediately cleaned tank, added the salt to the water, refrained from feeding for a day, and voila! Lucky was back to old self. I did, however, add one procedure from another site’s reccommendation, which was to feed some peas to the fish. I mushed them and chopped them up to tiny bits-like, one or two peas-d and just put in tank. They (Lucky has a friend, Swimmy) really like the little pea bits. Why the peas, one inquires (or doesn’t). The peas were advised as they would act like a laxative, thus possibly help “out” any err…substance in their systems. In any case, thanks, your advice helped save Lucky…although the thought of knitting a fish a little cap with sewing pins if it had to go through chemo went through my mind and sorry, I just don’t have that kind of time (or money for the vet bills) on my hands…
Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards, kimonodesign, we’re glad to have you with us. And we’re glad you’re li’l buddy made it.
When you start a thread, it’s helpful to other readers if you provide a link to the thread in question. Saves search time, and keeps us on the same track. In this case, I presume it’s If a goldfish is swimming on its side, is this a bad sign?
No biggie, you’ll know for next time, and again, welcome.
Glad the advice helped! Un-iodized (be sure it’s un-iodized) salt seems to fix most of what can ail goldfish. I’ve also had success with feeding a mashed green pea to goldfish with indigestion, or whatever else makes em swim funny. More than one or two might foul the water, though.
It’s always a good sign when you name your pet fish. Good luck
I had a dog named Fish once… 
Unless you name it “Flushy.”
This is a linguistic joke, right? The Hebrew word for “fish” is dog. Well, actually more “dawg” but the joke is there anyhow.
Or maybe he was using the other meaning of “name your pet fish”
He named his pet: Fish