Planet Zoo is a great way to spend some time. But if you want to get the most out of it, here are a few tips that will help. It’s especially important when building a new zoo. We’re here to help you avoid these mistakes by making them first.
1. Work through the Career Mode first
The Planet Zoo Career Mode answered many of my questions about how to build a zoo, but not all of them. The tutorials are not perfect, but they cover the most important topics. For example, how can you keep your animals healthy, make them happy, and create habitats? When things get more complex, you may want to consult a Planet Zoo guide.
2. Start with smaller, easier animals
You should start your zoo with the most expensive animals, but they require the most maintenance and have high social and enrichment requirements. This is something you will not be able to meet right away. Start small with easy-to-maintain animals such as ostriches and warthogs. These are also good for earning Conservation Credits and money that you can use to expand your zoo and attract more visitors.
3. Purchase animals with cash as a first step
The Conservation Credits in Planet Zoo are like gold dust, so you’ll want to start by focusing on animals that you can purchase with cash. You can buy them cheaply, and they will start earning you Credits, so you don’t have to sacrifice your Credits for future purchases. Do not get greedy when it comes to the Grizzlies.
4. The animals that you purchased with conservation coins cannot be traded for the animals that you bought using money
You can purchase animals with money, but they are useless when released into the wild. They will not earn you any Planet Zoo Conservation credits. Turn the critters you’ve acquired into a breeding pair and release their offspring to the wild in exchange for Planet Zoo Conservation Credits. This might sound like you’re running a breeding operation, but this is the best way to get everything you want.
5. Don’t forget about donation boxes
Money, money, money. Your guests can’t show their appreciation for your zoo without buckets where they can throw their spare change. Place enough Planet Zoo donation bins to show your guests their appreciation and boost your zoo’s revenue.
6. Hire enough mechanics and keepers
The keepers and mechanics will ensure that your animals are happy, healthy, and safe. Planet Zoo mechanics maintain your habitats to ensure there are no escape risks. Planet Zoo keepers take care of all animal-related tasks, including cleaning up poop and bringing new friends from the trading centre.
You will be told that you must build all staff facilities as soon as you start a new park. However, you can actually get away with only the following:
- Trade Centre
- Staff Room
- Quarantine
- Keeper Hut
Then you can have enough money to start your zoo, and by trading in smaller animals, you will be able to earn enough from guests to pay for the other staff facilities later. This is a great way to save some money.
7. A merchandise store is a wonderful way to delight your guests
Toys or balloons? A novelty eraser? Why not offer the merchandise that everyone wants by placing your Planet Zoo shop as your first stop? After all, they always tell you to leave through the gift shop. You’ll be able to give them enough money so that they can also survive. Toilets, water, and food are the most important. First, let’s talk about the merchandise!
8. Count the number of male animals in your household
You’ll see that happy animals will start to make their own to bring to your zoo. This is a good thing because a) babies are adorable, b) you can raise them and release them into the wild to earn Conservation Coins or improve your zoo’s reputation, and c) it will attract more guests. But beware. You should be aware that if you have more than one male adult animal in an enclosure, they will start to fight for the alpha position, resulting in injuries, vet costs, and unhappy guests.
9. Contraception is not something to be ashamed of
You can add contraceptives to your animal’s food if you are struggling to control the population of Planet Zoo. To add or remove contraceptives in the animal tab, you can slide the toggle.
Take advantage of Steam Workshop’s blueprints.
You can browse the Planet Zoo Steam Workshop to see what other players have already designed. You can choose from a wide range of designs for habitats, exhibits and more.
