What is the best way to raise a baby Carnotaurus in ARK: Survival Evolved?

Raising a baby Carnotaurus in ARK: Survival Evolved involves a combination of preparation, patience, and attention to detail. The process begins with breeding two adult Carnotaurus to produce an egg. Once the egg is laid, it must be incubated at the correct temperature, which for a Carnotaurus egg is between 26 to 32 degrees Celsius. This can be achieved using air conditioners, standing torches, or campfires, depending on your available resources. After the egg hatches, the baby Carnotaurus will require constant care until it reaches adulthood.

The first step in raising a baby Carnotaurus is to ensure you have a steady supply of food. Carnotaurus are carnivores, so they will need raw meat or cooked meat to survive. In the early stages, the baby will consume food rapidly, so it is essential to have a large stockpile of meat ready. You can gather meat by hunting other creatures or using a tamed carnivore to harvest meat more efficiently. It is also helpful to have a preserving bin or refrigerator to store the meat and prevent it from spoiling too quickly.

Once the baby Carnotaurus hatches, it will have a low food stat and will need to be fed immediately. You can place the meat directly into its inventory or use a feeding trough if you have multiple babies to care for. The feeding trough allows you to store food in a central location, and all nearby babies will automatically consume from it. This is particularly useful if you are raising multiple Carnotaurus or other carnivorous creatures at the same time.

As the baby grows, it will go through several stages: baby, juvenile, and adolescent. During these stages, it will require constant attention, especially in the early phases. The baby stage is the most critical, as the Carnotaurus will need to be fed frequently and will have low health and stamina. You should monitor its food stat closely and ensure it never runs out of food, as this will cause its health to drop rapidly. If you are playing solo, this can be quite demanding, so it is advisable to plan your schedule accordingly or enlist the help of tribe members if you are part of a tribe.

Imprinting is another important aspect of raising a baby Carnotaurus. Imprinting involves interacting with the baby at specific intervals to increase its stats and loyalty. When the baby requests care, it may ask for a specific type of food, a walk, or a cuddle. Fulfilling these requests will increase the imprinting percentage, which boosts the creature's damage, resistance, and other stats. Imprinting is particularly valuable for PvP or boss fights, as it can make your Carnotaurus significantly more powerful. To maximize imprinting, you should try to fulfill every request as soon as possible, as the timer for the next request will start immediately after the previous one is completed.

One common mistake players make is underestimating the amount of food required to raise a baby Carnotaurus. In the early stages, the baby will consume food at an alarming rate, and running out of meat can be disastrous. To avoid this, always have more meat than you think you will need, and consider using a tamed creature like a Carnotaurus or Rex to gather meat more efficiently. Another mistake is neglecting to monitor the baby's temperature. While Carnotaurus are relatively hardy, extreme temperatures can still harm them, so ensure they are kept in a safe, temperature-controlled environment.

Advanced techniques for raising a baby Carnotaurus include using a Maewing, a creature introduced in the Genesis Part 2 expansion. The Maewing has a special ability that allows it to nurse baby creatures, significantly reducing the amount of food they consume. This can make the raising process much easier, especially if you are raising multiple babies at once. Additionally, using a S+ Nanny from the Structures Plus mod can automate the feeding and imprinting process, though this is only available if you are using mods.

Resource requirements for raising a baby Carnotaurus include a large supply of meat, a secure base with temperature control, and access to water for drinking. If you are playing solo, you may also want to set up a small outpost near your base to store extra resources and reduce the time spent traveling. For tribes, coordinating with other members to share the workload can make the process much more manageable.

In conclusion, raising a baby Carnotaurus in ARK: Survival Evolved is a rewarding but challenging task. By preparing adequately, monitoring the baby's needs, and utilizing advanced techniques, you can successfully raise a powerful and loyal Carnotaurus. Whether you are playing solo or as part of a tribe, careful planning and attention to detail will ensure your baby Carnotaurus grows into a formidable companion.