Betta fish or Gold fish

Both fish are relatively easy to take care of. However, bettas can be a bit more difficult to take care of because they can easily get sick if their water isn't changed in a timely manner, of it they don't recieve enough filtration, or if their tanks are not kept in a healthy range for their type. Gold fish are a bit more hardy and can live long lives if they are taken care of easily.

I have had both types of fish. Betta's are a lot easier to care of no matter how much experience you have with fish. They don't need lots of room and have lived a long time in my home. We had one for five years and another for six years. Goldfish need lots of cleaning and a large fish tank. Personally, I think the sick ones that we have helped get over diseases did better in our hospital pond, as they mended quickly and went to new homes. We take in sick fish and unwanted fish, as many times people move and don't take their fish when leaving this state.

If you are going to get goldfish then make sure that you give them each 20 gallons of water so that they can grow right. Goldfish are messy fish and should have frequent partial water changes of 20 to 30% each week (think of an aquarium as a house with a toilet that is broken, the only way to flush the toilet is to do a partial water change). And as far as the bettas go they need more than just that little bowl that you see them in in the pet shop and also you need to keep them warmer than just room temp, unless room temp is near 80 degrees. The bettas will survive at lower temp but not thrive, and goldfish need to be kept cooler, 72 and lower for the best results. With that in mind I would go with the Betta unless you can provide a large enough tank and all of the filtration and other equipment that you need for goldfish. Yes you need that stuff for a Betta but it is less expensive and does not take up as much room as does the larger tank. By the way when you do a partial water change (on either the goldfish or Betta) you can use the water that you take out to water your plants, just do not over water the plants.

I have had both Beta's and Goldfish, and I can honnestly say I think Goldfish are easier to take care of. They seem to be a tougher fish. Either way you go, you will have a certain amount of upkeep and cleaning of the tank or bowl. That is something you will want to keep in mind. Currently I have a 35 gallon hexagon aquarium, and in it we have two plecosimuses, a mini-catfish, a neon guppy, a gold fish, a mini shark, and a silver colored fish with long whiskers. (It was given to us by some people who had lost all of their other fish, so they brought it to us to put in our tank.) I have a medium sized filter, and a couple air rocks that keep motion in the tank and keep the water circulating. That is the key to keeping a tank clean is keeping the water circulating through the tank. Especially when you have a deep tank. The airators help to circulate the bottom water to the top, and up into the filter. I change the filter about every 6 weeks, and the water stays clear. But yea, I would go with the Goldfish because they seem to be a heartier fish.