Silver Cyprinid (Omena)

Rastrineobola argentea

Silver cyprinid is a small pelagic fish, reaching about 8cm, endemic to the Lake Victoria basin and known locally as omena in Kenya, dagaa in Tanzania, and mukene in Uganda.

Species: Fish
Family: Danionidae
Climate requirements: A warm tropical lake species living in Lake Victoria's upper water layers at roughly 22-26C, migrating vertically to stay deep by day and rise near the surface at night; confined to Kenya's Lake Victoria basin.

Husbandry

Care & Economics

Husbandry guide: Omena is not pond-farmed; it is caught wild with small-mesh seine and lift nets, usually fished at night with light attraction as shoals rise after dark. Catches are sun-dried immediately on raised racks or mats along the lakeshore, since most landing sites lack refrigeration and the fish spoils fast. It feeds naturally on zooplankton, so no artificial feed input is needed, but drying quality and hygiene strongly determine whether the batch grades for human food or animal feed. Farmers or cooperatives engaging with omena are typically in the value chain (buying, drying, aggregating, transport) rather than production, since aquaculture rearing of the species has not been established.
Economic importance: Omena is a major low-cost protein source for East African households and a key input to Kenya's fish/animal-feed industry, with a value chain employing an estimated two million-plus people across the region.

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

Marketplace

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