What should be my first fish?

While opinions vary, there are two fish that are generally considered the best fish to start out on. While you're learning, you'll make mistakes. It's inevitable. You need a fish that will be forgiving enough to survive these. The two best fish are probably the Zebra Danio and the Betta. (aka Siamese fighter) These are both extremely forgiving for the initial tank set up. Once you get a tank with these going, you'll know much better what to do to keep the less hardy types of fish. Remember that Zebra Danios do best in schools of 6 or more fish, but Bettas must not be in contact with their own species.