Fish in dreams supposedly means wealth. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but I think it means that the most important substance necessary for those fish to live is taken away. And you got worried because you don't want that most needed thing to go away like that. You needed the water to stay happy knowing the fish would live.

So out of desperation, you got the quickest source of that substance and put them in there hoping to preserve them, but it didn't.

Can you apply any of this with your actions, emotions or thoughts?

Hi Ronin! The 1st thing to remember when you look at your dreams is that they are all about you. I think dreams are one way that we re-connect to parts of ourself that we've distanced from.
It's you, talking to you, in pictures! Sooo, the meaning each of the pictures has for you is what's important, not what the pictures mean to me. I will tell you what I get, and maybe you'll see how it works....
A bed, surrounded by water. To me a bed is a comfort zone. A place to relax, take refuge, sleep, rejuvinate, and THINK/FEEL.
I often have my most intimate thoughts and feelings while in bed.
Water. To me water is an emotional symbol. It's one of the basics for life. The water is clear enough for you to see two goldfish. Now I'm not real fond of goldfish, so I can't relate to the way you recognise each other and are happy to see each other.
(since the goldfish are part of you their recognition is yours)
I can't tell you what they represent, although being Gold makes me think it's precious to you. Perhaps they are special feelings that you have. The water is draining. To me this may mean that your emotional life is drying up, and the fish (feelings) are in danger of losing their lives.
Moldy/soggy carpet. After the water is gone you realise that it may not be a good idea to have a pond around the bed. This to me indicates you have some concern about the appropriateness of something. Perhaps you feel that something in your life is out of place?
Saving the fish. Whatever they mean to you, you want to save the fish, and manage to recover 3 out of 4. Still you are worried/concerned about their survival. Hunting for a larger container, you return to find them gone.

So what I GET FROM YOUR DREAM is that you are drying up emotionally and trying to hang on to something from the past.
But then MY SIGNIFICANT OTHER PASSED AWAY OVER 2 YEARS AGO AND I HAVEN'T FOUND ANOTHER RELATIONSHIP AND OFTEN FEEL EMOTIONALLY DRIED UP. So my question is... Does my interpretation fit your
circumstance/life? OR, is it just a REFLECTION of mine?

So please, take the symbols/pictures and see what they mean to YOU. I hope you find many Blessings, Marj