Last night my fish began to float on his side and upsidedown and became very still in his tank. Essentially he looked like he was dead, but he was still breathing. He has continued to float around without swimming too much in the same manner, sort of crooked and on his side. He'll float up to the top of his tank, float on his side and then try to swim normally only to return to his sideways position. He also looks as though he is breathing laboriously. And he hasn't really been eating his food. I just want to know if he is going to die any time soon or if perhaps he is just sick and if so what I can do to make him better. I have only had him for a few weeks and I hope he is not on his way out. He began acting this way shortly after a 3 hour car ride where he was in his tank which was not full with water, but full enough, and the opening was covered. Could that possibly be effecting him? Thank for all of your help!

hi
your fish sounds really sick.
if he took a ride in a lowered tank, that was not all the way cleaned, he may have been being swished around in some bacteria that used to live in the bottom of the tank. or he may have been lacking in oxygen.
there also could have been a difference in the water that you filled up his tank with, once he was at the end of his trip.

but when my fish doesnt look or act right, the first thing i do is make sure the water is clean.
i'm going to have you change some of his water. make sure that the temp is as close as his tank, and add some water conditioner (stresscoat, aquasafe, or similar)
if he is still not doing any better, post back and try to answer as many of the questions as you can in the red box above.
-Toot

I did clean his tank and refresh his water when I got back from the trip, should I do it again just as a precaution? And I bet he did come in contact with a lot of the bacteria in his tank because I hadn't cleaned it for a week because I didn't have any anti-chlorine drops or anything to purify his water. He seems to be really trying to stay alive, which is hopeful. But I guess I won't be too surprised if he does end up dying. Thanks again for the advice

keep the water as fresh as you can.
ammonia / chlorine / nitrites / etc
these can stress a fish, and where your fish is already fighting..

make sure to have lots of bubbles. get lots of oxygen into the water. this helps in any tank to keep anearobic bacteria from increasing.

again, answering the questions in the red box, can help us help you better.

I cleaned his tank and he doesn't seem any worse or any better. He's trying to swim normally but he always ends up on his side. If this goes on for much longer, say a day or two, should I just dispose of him? I hope it doesn't come to that but I also don't want him to be suffering. Thanks again

How are the water params in your tank? --ammonia, nitrIte,
nitrAte, ph level? If you don't have a test kit, take a water
sample to your local fish store. Most places test for free.
Make sure to get actual numbers, not OK or good.

Do you have a air pump with air stone/wall for aeration? This
increases the oxygen level in the water and releases carbon
dioxide and other gases.

For the flipover/bent look, make sure to keep your fish
under the surface of the water. What your fish has is a
problem with it's swim bladder due to constipation/gas/
eggs. Try fasting your fish for a couple days, then feed lightly
warmed, de-skinned peas. Cut or lightly mush into bite size
pieces. Peas are a laxative for goldies and most eat them
like candy.

If you have any questions just ask.

Thank you for the advice but unfortunately my fish died this morning However since I like having fish and I'm finding that there's more to keeping them than cleaning their bowl and feeding them, I will be coming back here often for advice once I get another. Thanks again!