The only real reason I have goldfish is that they belonged to someone else I knew and I offered to take them when they could no longer be looked after. I had always wanted pet fish, as I think they are very cute and pretty, as well as being relaxing to look at.

These things may be so, but looking after goldfish is disproportionately demanding. Cleaning a goldfish tank is a pretty horrible job (they are far dirtier animals than most tropical fish)

A decent tank can be quite expensive (please buy a big one - goldfish also need more space per fish than tropical)! But fish themselves are cheap, to coin a phrase, as chips. On the other hand, their lifespan is pretty random and they are more prone to disease than other pet fish. Usually if one lasts the first month it'll last a few years, and some can live an incredibly long time.

They are lovely to have here and because I have grown attached to them I would not get rid of them ever, but I don't think I will be buying fish again, despite my boyhood dream of owning a huge reef tank!