How To Hatch Eggs in ARK

ARK Creatures

Breeding creatures in ARK Survival Evolved servers isn’t just a side mission — it’s one of the most satisfying and strategic aspects of the entire game. Raising your own creatures from eggs gives you more control over their stats, behavior, and loyalty. But to get it right, you’ll need to learn how to incubate eggs like a pro

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How to get fertile eggs

Before anything can hatch, you need the right kind of egg. Only fertilized eggs — the result of mating two tamed creatures of the same species — can be incubated. Bring a male and female close together, enable mating in their settings, and wait for the process to begin. If you see hearts floating over their heads, you're on the right track. When they’re done, the female will drop a glowing egg that’s ready for incubation.

Egg Hatching Conditions

Once you've got your fertilized egg, it's time to focus on one thing: temperature. Each species has a specific temperature range required for the egg to develop properly. Too hot or too cold, and the egg will stop incubating — or worse, it could be destroyed. Monitoring temperature is the key to success here.

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When you drop the egg on the ground, you’ll notice a small bar that tracks incubation progress. The environment around the egg plays a huge role in whether that bar fills up smoothly or stalls out completely.

How to Keep the Temperature

There are several ways to regulate the temperature during incubation, and your choice depends on how far along you are in the game:

• Basic Methods (Early Game): Using campfires or standing torches arranged around the egg can help boost warmth. However, this setup requires constant adjustments and doesn’t handle extreme weather very well. It’s a hands-on method, but it works in a pinch.

• Air Conditioners (Mid to Late Game): A much more reliable solution, air conditioners can both cool and heat the surrounding area, giving you more flexibility. They’re especially useful for eggs that require a very specific range.

• Egg Incubator (Endgame Gear): If you’ve made it far enough to unlock the incubator, you’re in luck. This advanced tool can hold up to 10 eggs at once and lets you set the perfect temperature for each one. It even shows potential stats of the unborn creatures, giving you a sneak peek at the best picks before you commit to hatching.

Different Eggs, Different Needs

Not all eggs are created equal. Each species in ARK has its own preferred incubation temperature. For example:

• Raptors do well in warmer climates.

• Argentavis eggs, on the other hand, need cooler conditions.

Because of this, it’s smart to check what your particular egg needs before setting up your hatching station. Some creatures are a lot more sensitive than others, and temperature swings can ruin your efforts quickly.

The Moment of Hatching

Once the incubation bar fills completely, the egg will hatch — but don’t relax just yet. Baby creatures are fragile and need immediate care. You’ll have to “claim” the newborn quickly and feed it the right food (meat for carnivores, berries for herbivores).

Over time, your new companion will grow from baby to juvenile, then adolescent, and finally adult. During that growth, it needs regular feeding and — if you want a stronger bond — imprinting interactions as well.

Quick Tips for Better Results

• Always set up your incubation area before placing the egg.

• Don’t rely on weather staying consistent — sudden storms or heat waves can ruin incubation.

• Use air conditioning or the incubator when available, especially for rare or high-value eggs.

• Stock up on food before the hatch. Hungry babies don’t last long.

• Keep an eye on progress and temperature — neglect leads to heartbreak.

Result

To successfully hatch eggs in ARK: Survival Evolved, you must breed two creatures, maintain precise temperature conditions, and care for the newborns immediately after hatching. Mastering incubation unlocks stronger creatures and deeper control over your survival strategy.

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