Four habitat types, five families of requirements. Build a closed barrier loop first, configure staff gates and food, then add per-species terrain, water, and temperature settings before adopting any animal.

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The four Planet Zoo 2 habitat types

African savanna habitat with elephants and zebras at the watering hole at sunset

Terrestrial

Standard land habitat enclosed by a closed barrier loop with a staff gate. Lions, tigers, elephants, giraffes, zebras, primates, bears, wolves, and most of the launch roster live here. Each terrestrial habitat runs the welfare check that combines grade, height, terrain, social group, and enrichment.

Flying (aviary)

Same barrier loop as a terrestrial habitat but with a roof. Toco Toucan, Great Hornbill, Secretarybird, White-Tailed Sea Eagle, Golden Eagle, Eurasian Bittern, Greater Flamingo, Javan Green Magpie, Long-Eared Owl, Shoebill, and White-Backed Vulture.

Hawksbill turtle swimming inside a saltwater aquarium

Aquarium

Built around water, uses water barriers, supports fresh, salt, and brackish water, and runs a three-stage filter network. Sharks, turtles, rays, large fish, schooling species, and the West Indian Manatee.

Exhibit

Walk-through glass-front enclosures for small animals: Axolotl, Fire Salamander, Boa Constrictor, Yellow Anaconda, Desert Horned Viper, Eastern Brown Snake, Gila Monster, Mexican Redknee, Amazonian Giant Centipede, Monarch butterfly, and Moon Jelly.

The five families of Planet Zoo 2 habitat requirements

Barrier grade and height
Graded 1 to 4, heights from 0.5 m to 3 m. 12 species need climb-proof barriers.
Terrain
Dig/Raise, Flatten to Foundations, Flatten to Surface, Smooth, Terrace, and 5 Terrain Shapes. Grass (short/tall), Long Grass, Dirt (light/heavy), Rock (smooth/rough), Sand (fine/coarse), Snow.
Water depth
Each aquarium species has a preferred column depth. Surface species such as Blacktip Reef Sharks cruise near the surface; Great Hammerheads prefer deeper water.
Temperature
Every species has a tolerance. Planet Zoo 2 introduces seasons on a 60-real-time-minute year, so heaters must sit on a maintained power network for cold-sensitive species.
Cleanliness and integrity
Barrier degradation heat map; neglected aquarium barriers in particular can spring a leak. Heavier reinforced glass resists cracking better than lighter wood.

Building tips for each Planet Zoo 2 habitat type

  1. Lay the barrier loop

    Lay a closed loop of barriers before placing staff gates, staff facilities and food. The game will not register an open perimeter as a valid habitat.

  2. Check the species' Zoopedia entry

    Check the Info Panel and Zoopedia entry for every species before finalising the layout, because each species lists its required terrain type, preferred grass height, water depth or flyable area, temperature tolerance, and barrier grade.

  3. Add arboreal enrichment

    Place climbing frames, hammocks, branches and elevated platforms for arboreal and feline species so guests see climbing behaviour.

  4. Favour vertical over wide for aquatic and flying

    For aquatic and flying habitats favour vertical depth and height over wide footprints, because welfare is driven by the volume the animal can actually use (water column for fish, flight space for birds).

  5. Inspect the heat map

    Habitats degrade over time and barrier condition is shown on a heat map; neglected aquarium and aviary structures can crack, so schedule regular keeper inspections.

  6. Aim for the Prospering state

    Every species has an optional higher Prospering welfare state that requires research into the species' wild needs and rewards longer lifespans and higher guest donations.

Maintenance to keep Planet Zoo 2 habitat welfare high

Schedule keeper inspections on the same shift as staff gate maintenance, so barrier condition is reviewed together with the welfare check. Assign keepers, vets, caretakers, mechanics and educators to Work Zones that overlap each habitat. Short Work Zones reduce staff travel time and stop staff quitting. Heavier barrier materials resist cracking better than lighter ones. For aquariums, reinforce glass; for aviaries, use climb-proof barrier grades for the 12 species that need them.

Where the Planet Zoo 2 habitat requirements end and species specifics begin

The five families of Planet Zoo 2 habitat requirements apply to every species. The species-specific layer — preferred grass height, water column depth, flyable area, social group size, enrichment preferences, and breeding pair compatibility — sits on top of the requirements and is listed in the Zoopedia entry for each species. Reading the Zoopedia entry is the fastest way to lock in the per-species layer without missing a constraint.

FAQ

How many habitat types does Planet Zoo 2 have?

Four. Terrestrial, Flying (aviary), Aquarium, and Exhibit. Every habitat is gated by the same five families of requirements: barrier grade and height, terrain, water depth or flyable area, temperature, and cleanliness and integrity.

Planet Zoo 2 Animals and Zoopedia: Full Launch Animal List and What Each Entry ShowsThe launch roster of around 121 species split across Terrestrial, Flying, Aquarium, and Exhibit habitats, plus what each Zoopedia entry shows.Planet Zoo 2 Aquarium: How to Build, Filter and Keep Tanks CleanBuild order, three-stage filtration, salinity and temperature, the staff roles that keep tanks clean, and the maintenance that prevents leaks.Planet Zoo 2 Aviary: Roof, Perches, and Walkthrough Bird EnclosuresBuild order, roof and pole system, flyable area welfare check, perches and feeders, and the cohabitation rules that hold up across species.Planet Zoo 2 Biomes and Maps: Tropical, Temperate, Desert, Taiga and TundraFive Planet Zoo 2 biomes, the representative reserve region for each, and the construction defaults that flow from the climate.Planet Zoo 2 Building Tools: Blueprints, Paths, Foliage and Terrain BrushesThe build bar, blueprints vs piece-by-piece placement, scaling, flexi-color, pathing, and the foliage and terrain brushes that ship with Planet Zoo 2.Planet Zoo 2 Conservation: Career, Wildlife Reserves, and the Projects That PayHow Planet Zoo 2 conservation works, the research projects, the breeding programme, and the Wildlife Reserve accreditation that feeds the rating.