Freshwater fish are ALOT cheaper, and easier, than saltwater fish. For saltwater, you have to do LOTS of treatment, while in freshwater, all you mainly have to add is dechlorinating drops. Freshwater is so much easier, so I would stick with something cheap and less time consuming.

fresh water tropicals are easier to care for then goldfish and both fresh tropicals and golides are easier to care fro than salties…

a 16 gallon tank would hold 2 goldfish TOPS…
and saltwater would cost a fortune (and salt fish tend to be expensive and difficult…)

id do a nice freshwater tropical set up, buy a small heater for the tank, and go with a nice comunity setting.

a gourami with a small school or glowlight, cardinal or neon tetra or zebra danios would be lovely…
add a couple ottos and a group of corydora for clean up and youll have a nice setting.

freshwater fish are generally easier and less expensive to care for than slatwaer, not to say that saltwater isn’t rewarding or worth the extra exspense or work…

but if you do get goldfish please only keep one in a tank that small and keep with very well cleaned

You have other freshwater options besides goldfish you know. Saltwater is more expensive, you need more equipment and stuff and I think the fish tend to be more expensive as well. You could have a pretty good freshwater community tank with a 16 gallon. I would avoid goldfish, one as an adult really needs a 20 to itself…and I think most like more than one fish in their aquarium. They also need their water to be over filtered. You could go with tropical freshwater fish instead. You could pick a mid/top dweller you like, and a bottom dweller and have a school of both. Like a group of at least 6 neon tetras, harlequin rasboras, or cherry barbs and 5 corydoras catfish for example.

I think freshwater fish are alot easier to care for than saltwater. Also freshwater is not as expensive in my book. Some others might disagree with me but really this question is a matter of opinion question. Good Luck on which ever one you decide to go with

Freshwater are cheaper and easier to care for. You could get tropical fish or goldfish. Both are pretty hardy. But golfish are dirtier.

Well I used to own 2 gold fish and you have to clean their tanks frequently. But salt water fish are even harder. Plus you have to let algae and all that grow in the tank for a while before you can even put fish in it. You should read a lot about salt water fish before you think about owning them, plus have to clean the tank a lot too. Salt water fish take a lot more time to take care of then fresh water.

It is far easier and less expensive to take care of a fresh water tank than a marine tank.

There are less variables to deal with and the environment is less susceptible to sudden changes.

But… Having a marine tank is far cooler if you have the time for maintenance and studying.

Have Fun!

Fresh water, by far.

Fresh water fish are much cheaper and easier to care for. Salt water fish are much more expensive, and are sensitive to the changes in their water – you have to keep the levels of salt in the water regulated or it can kill them – which would not be good!