Hi All! My name is Meghan, and I live in Indiana. I need some advice for our friend Gilbert, which is what led me to this site. I am not a HUGE fish person, but I am pretty attached to this little (big) guy, and so is my daughter. We got Gilbert 2 years ago, along with 3 other various small fish, and a 15 gallon tank, for my daughter's 4th Birthday. The petstore guy indicated that Gilbert, the Chinese Algae eater (orange), would be fine in a tank with the other fish we purchased. Within 2 weeks, all the fish were dead, except Gilbert. I new he was the culprit, and did my own research to find out they are very agressive and can grow to be very large. Our once 1/2 inch Algae eater is now approx. 4 inches and occupies a 20 gallon tank, all by his lonesome...BUT he's happy. He plays and darts around and gets "excited" when we pay him attention. He likes his little home and has always seemed content with Spongebob, Patrick and the Crabby Patty Shack. He lives on the algae in the tank and the wafers (1 every other day). About a year ago, Gilbert got a new water change, and somehow got out of his tank (I am sure he jumped), we found him very shortly after he did it and got him back in the tank and he was fine, darting around happy to be back in his home. BUT, yesterday, after being gone all day, from 8am-6pm, my daughter goes into her room and I hear "Oh MY GOSH GILBERT!!!"....yes, he was on the floor, and we do not know how long. He was not moving, and when I picked him up he was lifeless; however, I put him in the tank...he sank to the bottom on his back, but he was breathing, very slowly and heavily, but he was breathing. Within 20 minutes, he had turned himself over and was at the top of the tank, taking in oxygen. My husband got home and changed his filter and kind of "disturbed" the tank a little. This got Gilbert moving and he ended up darting back down to the bottom...still breathing very heavily. He is still alive, but I'm not sure he will make it. He was looking pale today and still seemed distressed. Is he slowly dying? What should I do? Is there even anything we can do? Please don't give me the "you should have had a lid" because I know this, and we plan on getting one tonight....but, I thought after the first near-death experience, he wouldn't do it again...I was wrong. I just hope our little buddy makes it. Any advice or experience is appreciated. Thanks.