Nearly all fish can survive for quite a long time outside of water, much longer than a human can underwater (drowned). They gulp air into their stomach, and recieve some oxygen through there. In fact, most will die first from being dried out than from oxygen deprivation. Ive seen some fish that look completely dead, put them back in the water, in a few minutes, theyre alive again. Always put them right back in the water. If he dies, then you tried.
Xcrown