My Sarassa comet goldfish jumped out of the tank and laid on the floor for about 45 minutes before being found. He swims and eats but the side that was face up dried out and now it looks concerning. Is there anything I can do to help him? Will he survive? It's been about 10 days now. Pet's info: Fish | Unknown - Fish | Male | unneutered | 0.2 lbs

Consider placing him in a hospital tank. Maintain pristine water quality. That's the foundation for healing. Perform partial water changes every few days if necessary. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Add StressCoat or similar product to promote a slime coat. Plain aquarium salt (NOT table or Epsom salt) can be used to reduce stress, improve gill function, treat minor infection and aid in recovery. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of salt per 5 gallons of water in a cup or two of tank water and gently pour it into the tank. Treat for 10-14 days then reassess his condition. It will take time for him to heal. He may not fully heal, but it he can eat and swim, he should be fine.

It may be minor infection (bacterial, fungal, parasites), trauma or simply normal for him. Monitor for rapid change or growth, lethargy, decreased appetite, bruising or bleeding. Maintain pristine water quality at all times. I would be hesitant to recommend any medication without more information or clear signs of illness or injury. A good sign is that I don't see clamped fins which can indicate stress or illness. What you can try is some plain aquarium salt (NOT table or Epsom salt). It is an excellent general tonic that can reduce stress, improve gill function, treat minor infection and aid in any recovery. Dissolve 1 tablespoon of salt per FIVE gallons of water in a cup or two of tank water and gently pour it into the tank. Treat for 10-14 days then reassess his condition. Partial water changes, no more than 30% total volume, can be done afterwards to reduce salinity. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Goldfish do best between 65 F and 72 F.