Fish fit well in almost any type of household. They're quiet,
generally peaceful and, depending on your tastes, not expensive
to buy or to shelter.
Usually, the biggest expense involves an aquarium.
Setting up a highfalutin aquarium for your freshwater or saltwater
fish generally ensures your fin friends can live a long, healthy
life. For those who want fish as pets, but not exotic pricey
ones, a simple, adequately built aquarium will do and costs
much less.
If your personality requires a lot of interaction
with your pet, staring at Goldie through the glass will leave
you feeling less than satisfied. If you're more like the Chinese,
who began breeding carp for food in the 10th century, and
who view goldfish as a sign of wealth, this pet will be perfect
for you -- one way or the other.
Bizrate.com
lists prices for all the products you'll need to keep fish as
pets. Costs vary widely depending on the type and number of
fish you want. You may want to start simply with the more resilient
type of fish before moving up to more-expensive, exotic ones.
At Alysta.com, check out "A
beginner's guide to starting a freshwater aquarium,"
which lists a variety of suitable fish with a description
of temperaments and where the fish like to hang out in the
aquarium. For example, the Black Ruby is an aggressive type
of fish who swims all over the tank whereas the Bristle Nose
is peaceful and enjoys hanging out on the bottom. Check with
the people at your local pet store for more advice.
Once you decide on the type of fish you'd like,
the must-haves include the house (aquarium), the furniture
(pumps and filters), and the food. That can run anywhere from
$40 to $450.
Feeding your fish will cost anywhere from $10
to $100 annually.
Fish fit well in almost any type of household. They're quiet,
generally peaceful and, depending on your tastes, not expensive
to buy or to shelter. 
