How do I prevent my baby creatures from starving in ARK: Survival Evolved?
Preventing baby creatures from starving in ARK: Survival Evolved is one of the most critical aspects of the breeding process. Baby creatures require constant attention and care during their early stages of life, as they cannot feed themselves until they reach the juvenile stage. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide to help you manage this process effectively.
First, letÔÇÖs break down the mechanics. When a baby creature is born or hatches, it starts with a low food stat. This food stat depletes rapidly, and if it reaches zero, the baby will starve and die. To prevent this, you must manually feed the baby or ensure it has access to food in its inventory. The type of food required depends on the species. Carnivores need raw meat, cooked meat, or raw prime meat, while herbivores require berries, vegetables, or crops like mejoberries or carrots. Some creatures, like the Maewing, have unique dietary needs, so always check the specific requirements for the species you are raising.
Step-by-step, hereÔÇÖs how to keep your baby creatures fed. First, prepare a large stockpile of the appropriate food before the baby is born or hatches. For carnivores, this means hunting and gathering raw meat, which spoils quickly, so consider using preserving bins or refrigerators to extend its shelf life. For herbivores, gather a variety of berries and crops. Once the baby is born, place the food directly into its inventory. The baby will automatically consume the food as its hunger depletes. Keep a close eye on the food stat and replenish the inventory as needed. Early on, you may need to check every few minutes, as the food stat depletes very quickly in the baby stage.
One important tip is to use a feeding trough once the baby reaches the juvenile stage. At this point, the creature can eat from a trough, which reduces the need for constant manual feeding. Place the trough within range of the baby and fill it with the appropriate food. This is especially useful if you are raising multiple babies at once, as it allows you to manage them more efficiently. Additionally, consider using a Maewing, a creature introduced in the Genesis Part 2 DLC, which has a special ability to nurse babies and juveniles, significantly reducing the amount of manual feeding required.
Common mistakes to avoid include underestimating the amount of food needed and failing to monitor the babyÔÇÖs food stat closely. Babies can starve very quickly, especially in the early stages, so itÔÇÖs crucial to stay vigilant. Another mistake is not preparing enough food in advance. Running out of food mid-raising can be disastrous, so always gather more than you think youÔÇÖll need. Additionally, avoid leaving babies unattended for long periods, as they may require immediate attention if their food runs out.
Advanced techniques involve optimizing your setup to minimize the effort required. For example, using air conditioners or incubators to hatch eggs in a controlled environment can help you time the hatching process more effectively. This allows you to prepare food and other resources in advance. Another advanced strategy is to use cryopods to store babies temporarily if you need to step away. Cryopods pause the growth and food consumption of the creature, giving you more flexibility in managing your time.
Resource requirements and preparation are key to successful baby raising. YouÔÇÖll need a steady supply of food, preserving methods like preserving bins or refrigerators, and a safe, enclosed area to raise the babies. For carnivores, consider setting up a meat farm with creatures like Dodos or Phiomia, which can be easily slaughtered for meat. For herbivores, establish a crop plot system to grow berries and vegetables. Having a reliable source of food will make the process much smoother.
Tribe and solo considerations also play a role. In a tribe, you can divide responsibilities, with one person gathering food while another monitors the babies. This makes the process more manageable, especially when raising multiple creatures. Solo players will need to plan carefully and may want to focus on raising one or two babies at a time to avoid being overwhelmed.
Specific examples include raising a Rex, which requires a significant amount of raw meat. Prepare by hunting large creatures like Brontos or Stegos for their meat, and use preserving bins to keep it fresh. For a herbivore like a Parasaur, gather large quantities of mejoberries and store them in a feeding trough once the baby reaches the juvenile stage. Using these strategies, you can successfully raise your baby creatures without them starving, ensuring they grow into strong, loyal companions.
First, letÔÇÖs break down the mechanics. When a baby creature is born or hatches, it starts with a low food stat. This food stat depletes rapidly, and if it reaches zero, the baby will starve and die. To prevent this, you must manually feed the baby or ensure it has access to food in its inventory. The type of food required depends on the species. Carnivores need raw meat, cooked meat, or raw prime meat, while herbivores require berries, vegetables, or crops like mejoberries or carrots. Some creatures, like the Maewing, have unique dietary needs, so always check the specific requirements for the species you are raising.
Step-by-step, hereÔÇÖs how to keep your baby creatures fed. First, prepare a large stockpile of the appropriate food before the baby is born or hatches. For carnivores, this means hunting and gathering raw meat, which spoils quickly, so consider using preserving bins or refrigerators to extend its shelf life. For herbivores, gather a variety of berries and crops. Once the baby is born, place the food directly into its inventory. The baby will automatically consume the food as its hunger depletes. Keep a close eye on the food stat and replenish the inventory as needed. Early on, you may need to check every few minutes, as the food stat depletes very quickly in the baby stage.
One important tip is to use a feeding trough once the baby reaches the juvenile stage. At this point, the creature can eat from a trough, which reduces the need for constant manual feeding. Place the trough within range of the baby and fill it with the appropriate food. This is especially useful if you are raising multiple babies at once, as it allows you to manage them more efficiently. Additionally, consider using a Maewing, a creature introduced in the Genesis Part 2 DLC, which has a special ability to nurse babies and juveniles, significantly reducing the amount of manual feeding required.
Common mistakes to avoid include underestimating the amount of food needed and failing to monitor the babyÔÇÖs food stat closely. Babies can starve very quickly, especially in the early stages, so itÔÇÖs crucial to stay vigilant. Another mistake is not preparing enough food in advance. Running out of food mid-raising can be disastrous, so always gather more than you think youÔÇÖll need. Additionally, avoid leaving babies unattended for long periods, as they may require immediate attention if their food runs out.
Advanced techniques involve optimizing your setup to minimize the effort required. For example, using air conditioners or incubators to hatch eggs in a controlled environment can help you time the hatching process more effectively. This allows you to prepare food and other resources in advance. Another advanced strategy is to use cryopods to store babies temporarily if you need to step away. Cryopods pause the growth and food consumption of the creature, giving you more flexibility in managing your time.
Resource requirements and preparation are key to successful baby raising. YouÔÇÖll need a steady supply of food, preserving methods like preserving bins or refrigerators, and a safe, enclosed area to raise the babies. For carnivores, consider setting up a meat farm with creatures like Dodos or Phiomia, which can be easily slaughtered for meat. For herbivores, establish a crop plot system to grow berries and vegetables. Having a reliable source of food will make the process much smoother.
Tribe and solo considerations also play a role. In a tribe, you can divide responsibilities, with one person gathering food while another monitors the babies. This makes the process more manageable, especially when raising multiple creatures. Solo players will need to plan carefully and may want to focus on raising one or two babies at a time to avoid being overwhelmed.
Specific examples include raising a Rex, which requires a significant amount of raw meat. Prepare by hunting large creatures like Brontos or Stegos for their meat, and use preserving bins to keep it fresh. For a herbivore like a Parasaur, gather large quantities of mejoberries and store them in a feeding trough once the baby reaches the juvenile stage. Using these strategies, you can successfully raise your baby creatures without them starving, ensuring they grow into strong, loyal companions.