advice on buying a fish please?

[laura]

I'd like to buy a fish and I've been doing some research, but I find it a bit confusing. The more I look to the internet, the more I read about goldfish getting nasty diseases or dying because their tank/bowl is too small.

I'd like to get a fancy goldfish, but I don't know if I can afford the big, expensive tanks I see people recommending online. Those people seem to have multiple goldfish, but I just want one, two max.

Are there other fish (that aren't so tiny they're invisible) that are easier to take care of? Do I really need a 10 gallon tank with a halogen light and filter? I want to be a responsible fish-owner and not kill my fish in a week. Please help!