If the goldfish can't keep itself upright, then it could be a problem related to its swim bladder (constipation).   Is it a fancy egg-shaped goldfish, like a fantail?  Try feeding it some boiled peas . Just pop the peas out of the shell and break it into little pieces to feed to your goldfish. The peas will help to clear out the digestive tract so your goldfish can swim normally again.

When you say "egg bound" you don't mean that the fish looks swollen, do you? In that case some internal infection might be present too... but for now, do as nabi says and see if the fish'll get any better. You could also do a partial water change and add some medical aquarium salt, just in case.

Hanna: I didn't even notice that! o_o Oh, that's just sad :C It's obvious on any fish when they're getting sick, and people totally need to look out for it better!

Here it is

My goldfish just died a couple days ago.  I have had her for 2 years, and my water quality is always kept in very good condition.  She had recently developed tail rot.  This is where the edge of the tail starts to look ragged.  Check your fish's tail and fins for any signs.  

I didn't know how serious this disease is, and neither did Petsmart.  I asked them 2-3 weeks ago about it, and they said don't worry about it unless it starts to look like ribbons.  Well, this advice killed my goldfish.  Tail rot is very serious and starts on the inside of the fish, and should be treated a.s.a.p..  

The first sign that I knew she was in serious trouble was when she started sleeping on the bottom of the tank.  Even in this condition and as she declined, she always made an effort to get up for me, to say "hi" when I peered in.  As soon as I saw her on the bottom, I asked Petsmart, and they told me to use Melafix, but it did not help, and 72 hours later she died.  I am very upset that she has passed.  I hope you can still save your fish.  My other goldfish is still in very healthy condition.

The Melafix may have worked if I administered it 3 weeks ago, I am not sure.

Please read the communication that your fish gives to you, and give him/her special attention, as they may need to be medicated.  Best of luck to you both.  :)

SummerTime: I'm so sorry to hear that But it was like that for me, I went to the pet shop and asked about my fish, why they're hovering by the surface, and the answer I got was "Umm... they're dead?" Which pissed me off, and ever since, I've started studying a lot about fish health and disease, so I can deal with it on my own. Because I don't need advice from people who've no idea what they're talking about. (Btw, they were hovering because of various water quality problems, which I repaired when buying some water tests for nitrates.)

By the way, Melafix isn't proper medication against illness, you should use it only in the earliest stages of illness and for preventive purposes, because there is nothing in this "medicine" that kills bacteria, it's more like a tonic that will help your fish to recover on his own. So get some proper anti-bacterial/anti-fungal meds whenever necessary if you notice that the fish is in bad shape.

And you're absolutely right! As soon as your fish starts acting differently, you have to pay attention and make sure that they're okay!

Thanks for your condolence.  Petsmart does sell fish, and I think some of their locations are better than others, but I will no longer use them for advice.  In this case, it would have been better if they just said they didn't know, because then I would have looked further for an answer.

One reason I wanted to post my experience is so that others may learn from it.  I hope it helps at least 1 fish. 

I have been looking for an aquarium shop where I can buy a new goldfish friend for my remaining goldfish, Shamrock.  I want a shop that will be able to answer my questions if I get in a bind again.  I have been reading customer reviews online, and visited 2 shops yesterday.  One of the shops I went in, I told the employee about my goldfish loss (Orchid was her name), and he said to have a goldfish for 2 years was really good, he didn't know anyone who had one that long!  So I won't be going back there.

There is a shop near my house that I am impressed with and will be using (in northern Illinois).  Lots of good reviews, and they were very helpful when I stopped in yesterday to ask questions.  They advertise themselves as being available to offer advice, etc.  He also said that they have a customer who has a goldfish that is 33 years old.

That's makes me so angry!! It shows how little that guy actually knows. Those poor fish

I am also extremely happy you have found somewhere else.

I think a person SHOULD HAVE some qualifications to be allowed to work at a pet shop. They should know how to care for fish too! Bleh, things are st*pid :C