Rainbow Trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Rainbow trout is a cold-water salmonid native to Pacific drainages of North America, introduced to Kenya's highlands in the early 20th century and now the basis of Kenya's small commercial trout industry.

Species: Fish
Family: Salmonidae
Climate requirements: Needs clean, cold, fast-flowing water between roughly 10-18C, restricting farming to high-altitude forest-stream areas such as the Aberdares, Mount Kenya, and Mau slopes (Nyandarua, Nyeri, Meru counties).

Husbandry

Care & Economics

Husbandry guide: Grown in concrete or earthen raceways and flow-through ponds fed by diverted streams rather than static ponds, since continuous high-oxygen flow is essential. Grow-out stocking is roughly 20-30 fish per cubic meter; overcrowding sharply hurts feed conversion. Feed high-protein (40%+) floating pellets, with feed conversion ratios around 1.2-1.5:1 achievable under good raceway management. Fish are graded regularly and reach about 30-40cm (roughly 0.3-1.5kg) marketable size in 9-24 months depending on system intensity. Prolonged droughts reducing stream flow are an increasing operational risk for existing farms.
Economic importance: Trout is a premium, low-volume product fetching a price well above tilapia or catfish, serving hotels, restaurants, and tourism markets near Nyandarua and Mount Kenya; high water and capital requirements keep it a niche rather than mainstream smallholder enterprise.

Genetics

Breeds

No breeds recorded yet.

Animal health

Diseases

No diseases recorded yet.

Nutrition

Feeds

No feeds recorded yet.

Veterinary

Drugs & Medication

No drugs recorded yet.

Value chain

Products from this Animal

No derived products recorded yet.

Trade

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