I would like to check my fishes gills, to determine whether or not he for sure has gill disease. I managed to catch him in my hand, and held him slightly out of the water, but couldn't figure out how to actually look under the gills. He's very tiny, only an inch and a half from tip of nose to tip of tail, so his gills are pretty small. I also don't have finger nails, so I can't figure out how to get underneath the little gills. Any advice?

I havent had to look at little ones gills. I hope some one will help

Bubblegoose, the simplest, and fastest way, to look into a fishies gill is, taking him out and holding him with the hand you are usually not used to do things with. Like, when you are right handed, hold him with your left, so you can go on with the gill checking with your right.
Said that, keep one whole side of the fish in the water, so he does not panic so much, and since you dont have much of a fingernail, you could use a pair of tweezers, and lift the gill plate up carefully and look inside....
For what different colors and conditions of gills mean, you can go check out
http://users.megapathdsl.net/~solo/puregol...Fish%20Physical

Its pretty good explained there!
Good luck,and lets us know what you see!

Thanks for the advice, the tweezers seem like a good idea! (I was thinking a knife, but thought that would be way too big and clumsy). I'll give it a try tomorrow when there's lots of light in my living room. I'll let you know what I find! Thanks again!