I "fixed" the fish today

I did it. What I talked about yesterday. I took the fish out, laid him on one side, and poked him in that red area behind his gills. I think I did it several times. Then, I put him on his other side and did the same thing.

Now I put the fish back in the bowl. He's definitely not doing as well. He's at the top against one side of the bowl. I wonder if he can still swim around? At first he was swimming somewhat wildly, but now he has settled down. Oh, when I put my finger on the wall of the bowl next to him, he starts swimming wildly again. But then he calms down and moves back up to the top. I wonder how he will do now. Now he's just staying at the top. Wonder how long he's going to do that for, or if that's all he's going to do. If that's all, then I may have to poke him some more. For now, Im just going to let him be, and see what he does. Oh, and he's not flapping his fins anymore. I wonder if he's in pain? Or just shock, that he could be so easily controlled. He can't seem to swim calmly anymore. I wonder if this is permanent, or temporary? He seems to be a little bit to one side. I think he's using the wall to keep himself straight. So, he's definitely got some problems now. The fish is obviously having trouble swimming on one side, and has to compensate by swimming harder on the other side. And he seems only able to swim around the sides of the bowl. I hope he improves. But, I wouldn't count on it. He's slightly to one side. That's not a good sign. Who would have known that a few pokes on the red part behind his gills could make him act this way? I didn't think I hit him that hard. Apparently for him, it was painful. I think I may have to end it for him later today if he doesn't improve, because being just on one side is really not good, it means there is something wrong with the fish. Also, now it appears that his fins are more clamped together. I thing he is definitely in a lot worse shape than before. He must really be hurting. I didn't mean it like that.

I think this is the start toward the end of this fish's life. It's a shame. But it's true today that he was barely moving around, not eating, and not blowing bubbles. I'm thinking these fishes really don't do well in a bowl, they really probably need, like I've read, a tank with a heater and a filter, etc.

I'm sure I have permanently injured this fish. He is not acting like he was before. Now, his fins are clamped and he can't swim calmly, when he swims it looks like a great effort on his part. He swims quickly to the top to get air, then swims back down. I think one side of him is injured, because he struggles slightly to swim not sideways. He doesn't move his fins as much as he used to. When he's still, he doesn't move them at all. He mainly sticks to the sides of the bowl when swimming. And he likes to stay at the bottom.