how long do rainbow fish last

how many years does a rainbow fish (fry) live for.

Gertrude's Rainbow Fish like I have are small, colorful and short lived (about a year and a half). Their short lifespan and small size are probably why you don't see them in aquarium shops. Angela raises larger species of rainbow fish, so she can finish answering your question.

Some bows may live 5 years or more. It depends on the species, and whether or not it's a purebred or a hybrid.

Hybrids are undesirable. For a multitude of reasons.

Please research your bows before you get a tankful. 5 Neon Preacox in a 10 gallon will be ok, until they breed like rabbits and fill up the tank.

5 Bosemani fry won't last long in a 10 gallon aquarium... They'll grow to 5 inches or more! So a 55 gallon would be better suited. I had a Lacustris (Torquoise) Rainbow that was nearly 8 inches!

A great resource, at least for a little while longer is Bowheads.org The people have a huge amount of knowledge on bows.

Of course feel free to ask as many questions as you like, and I'll try my best to answer them.