Incubation

Incubation in ARK: Survival Evolved is the process of hatching Fertilized Eggs into babies as part of breeding.

Incubation requires time and a steady temperature, e.g. by isolation in a room, fire,  Otter/ Dimetrodon (level melee), or  Air Conditioners can be used to increase or decrease the temperature respectively. The amount of time an incubated egg requires before it hatches into a baby dinosaur depends on the species of the parents. To incubate, the egg must be placed directly on the floor/ground; if the temperature is not correct, the egg will lose health until it dies.

The incubation can be "paused" by picking up the egg. Place the egg in a refrigerator to preserve it longer, the incubation progress will be saved.

If  Egg Incubator  is used to incubate the egg, pay close attention to the health of the eggs from display. Temperature must still be maintained by adjusting the Incubator's temperature.

When the egg hatches, the baby will require intensive care.

Species	Incubation Temperature						Maturation Time [(d) h:m]				Mating Interval [h:m]
	Celsius (°C)		Fahrenheit (°F)		Visual	Time [h:m]	Baby	Juvenile	Adolescent	Total
	Min	Max	Min	Max
Allosaurus	26	32	79	90		1:39	4:37	18:31	23:08	1d 22:17	18:00–48:00
Anglerfish	-75	75	-103	167		4:59	3:42	14:48	18:31	1d 13:02	18:00–48:00
Ankylosaurus	16	20	61	68		2:37	4:52	19:29	1d 00:21	2d 00:43	18:00–48:00
Araneo	4	12	39	54		1:25	2:30	10:00	12:30	1d 01:01	18:00–48:00
Archaeopteryx	16	20	61	68		2:37	1:32	6:10	7:42	15:25	18:00–48:00
Argentavis	12	13.5	54	56		2:56	5:26	21:47	1d 03:13	2d 06:27	18:00–48:00
Arthropluera	18	22	64	72		2:29	5:08	20:34	1d 01:43	2d 03:26	18:00–48:00
Baryonyx	29	35	84	95		1:59	4:37	18:31	23:08	1d 22:17	18:00–48:00
Beelzebufo	0	50	32	122		4:59	3:42	14:48	18:31	1d 13:02	18:00–48:00
Bloodstalker	27	30	81	86		2:56	5:26	21:47	1d 03:13	2d 06:27	18:00–48:00
Brontosaurus	28	31	82	88		4:59	9:15	1d 13:02	1d 22:17	3d 20:35	18:00–48:00
Carbonemys	30	34	86	93		1:14	2:18	9:15	11:34	23:08	18:00–48:00
Carnotaurus	26	32	79	90		1:39	4:37	18:31	23:08	1d 22:17	18:00–48:00
Compy	24	32	75	90		0:49	2:06	8:25	10:31	21:02	18:00–48:00
Crystal Wyvern	75	85	167	185		4:59	9:15	1d 13:02	1d 22:17	3d 20:35	18:00–48:00
Deinonychus	80	90	176	194		4:59	3:42	14:48	18:31	1d 13:02	18:00–48:00
Dilophosaur	28	32	82	90		1:08	2:06	8:25	10:31	21:02	18:00–48:00
Dimetrodon	30	34	86	93		2:29	4:37	18:31	23:08	1d 22:17	18:00–48:00
Dimorphodon	35	38	95	100		1:21	2:30	10:00	12:30	1d 01:01	18:00–48:00
Diplocaulus	0	50	32	122		4:59	3:42	14:48	18:31	1d 13:02	18:00–48:00
Diplodocus	26	29	79	84		4:59	9:15	1d 13:02	1d 22:17	3d 20:35	18:00–48:00
Dodo	22	30	72	86		0:49	1:32	6:10	7:42	15:25	18:00–48:00
Electrophorus	0	50	32	122		4:59	4:37	18:31	23:08	1d 22:17	18:00–48:00
Featherlight	29	32	84	90		1:39	4:52	19:29	1d 00:21	2d 00:43	18:00–48:00
Gallimimus	24	28	75	82		1:25	2:38	10:34	13:13	1d 02:27	18:00–48:00
Giganotosaurus	43	44	109	111		2d 01:59	1d 00:23	4d 01:35	5d 01:59	10d 03:59	18:00–48:00
Glowtail	30	34	86	93		2:29	4:52	19:29	1d 00:21	2d 00:43	18:00–48:00
Hesperornis	22	30	72	86		1:30	2:48	11:13	14:01	1d 04:03	18:00–48:00
Ichthyornis	29	32	84	90		1:39	3:42	14:48	18:31	1d 13:02	18:00–48:00
Iguanodon	24	28	75	82		1:25	4:37	18:31	23:08	1d 22:17	18:00–48:00
Kairuku	22	30	72	86		1:30	2:48	11:13	14:01	1d 04:03	18:00–48:00
Kaprosuchus	29	35	84	95		1:59	3:42	14:48	18:31	1d 13:02	18:00–48:00
Kentrosaurus	24	30	75	86		2:46	5:08	20:34	1d 01:43	2d 03:26	18:00–48:00
Lymantria	35	38	95	100		1:30	3:05	12:20	15:25	1d 06:51	18:00–48:00
Lystrosaurus	24	28	75	82		0:49	1:32	6:10	7:42	15:25	18:00–48:00
Maewing	22	26	72	79		1:25	4:37	18:31	23:08	1d 22:17	36:00–96:00
Magmasaur	90	110	194	230		4:59	18:31	3d 02:04	3d 20:35	7d 17:11	18:00–48:00
Mantis	35	38	95	100		2:46	5:26	21:47	1d 03:13	2d 06:27	18:00–48:00
Megachelon	-75	75	-103	167		4:59	9:15	1d 13:02	1d 22:17	3d 20:35	18:00–48:00
Megalania	29	35	84	95		1:59	3:42	14:48	18:31	1d 13:02	18:00–48:00
Megalosaurus	26	32	79	90		1:39	9:15	1d 13:02	1d 22:17	3d 20:35	18:00–48:00
Microraptor	24	28	75	82		1:25	5:26	21:47	1d 03:13	2d 06:27	18:00–48:00
Morellatops	22	28	72	82		2:29	3:05	12:20	15:25	1d 06:51	18:00–48:00
Moschops	16	20	61	68		2:37	4:52	19:29	1d 00:21	2d 00:43	18:00–48:00
Oviraptor	26	30	79	86		1:08	2:06	8:25	10:31	21:02	18:00–48:00
Pachy	24	28	75	82		1:25	2:38	10:34	13:13	1d 02:27	18:00–48:00
Pachyrhinosaurus	22	28	72	82		2:29	4:37	18:31	23:08	1d 22:17	18:00–48:00
Parasaur	24	28	75	82		1:25	2:38	10:34	13:13	1d 02:27	18:00–48:00
Pegomastax	28	32	82	90		1:08	3:05	12:20	15:25	1d 06:51	18:00–48:00
Pelagornis	29	32	84	90		1:39	3:42	14:48	18:31	1d 13:02	18:00–48:00
Pteranodon	29	32	84	90		1:39	3:42	14:48	18:31	1d 13:02	18:00–48:00
Pulmonoscorpius	12	16	54	61		1:59	3:42	14:48	18:31	1d 13:02	18:00–48:00
Quetzal	5	6	41	43		16:39	13:13	2d 04:54	2d 18:08	5d 12:16	18:00–48:00
Raptor	20	28	68	82		1:59	3:42	14:48	18:31	1d 13:02	18:00–48:00
Rex	32	34	90	93		4:59	9:15	1d 13:02	1d 22:17	3d 20:35	18:00–48:00
Rock Drake	-90	-80	-130	-112		6:14	9:15	1d 13:02	1d 22:17	3d 20:35	18:00–48:00
Sarco	30	34	86	93		2:29	4:37	18:31	23:08	1d 22:17	18:00–48:00
Snow Owl	12	13.5	54	56		2:56	5:26	21:47	1d 03:13	2d 06:27	18:00–48:00
Spino	30	32	86	90		3:50	7:07	1d 04:29	1d 11:36	2d 23:13	18:00–48:00
Stegosaurus	22	28	72	82		2:46	5:08	20:34	1d 01:43	2d 03:26	18:00–48:00
Tapejara	29	32	84	90		1:39	5:26	21:47	1d 03:13	2d 06:27	18:00–48:00
Tek Parasaur	24	28	75	82		1:25	2:38	10:34	13:13	1d 02:27	18:00–48:00
Tek Quetzal	5	6	41	43		16:39	13:13	2d 04:54	2d 18:08	5d 12:16	18:00–48:00
Tek Raptor	20	28	68	82		1:59	3:42	14:48	18:31	1d 13:02	18:00–48:00
Tek Rex	32	34	90	93		4:59	9:15	1d 13:02	1d 22:17	3d 20:35	18:00–48:00
Tek Stegosaurus	22	28	72	82		2:46	5:08	20:34	1d 01:43	2d 03:26	18:00–48:00
Tek Triceratops	22	28	72	82		2:29	4:37	18:31	23:08	1d 22:17	18:00–48:00
Terror Bird	20	28	68	82		1:59	4:37	18:31	23:08	1d 22:17	18:00–48:00
Therizinosaur	26	32	79	90		1:39	11:34	1d 22:17	2d 09:52	4d 19:44	18:00–48:00
Thorny Dragon	22	28	72	82		2:29	4:52	19:29	1d 00:21	2d 00:43	18:00–48:00
Triceratops	22	28	72	82		2:29	4:37	18:31	23:08	1d 22:17	18:00–48:00
Troodon	28	32	82	90		1:08	2:06	8:25	10:31	21:02	18:00–48:00
Tropeognathus	29	32	84	90		1:39	5:26	21:47	1d 03:13	2d 06:27	18:00–48:00
Tusoteuthis	0	50	32	122		4:59	18:31	3d 02:04	3d 20:35	7d 17:11	18:00–48:00
Velonasaur	28	32	82	90		1:08	4:37	18:31	23:08	1d 22:17	18:00–48:00
Voidwyrm	80	90	176	194		4:59	9:15	1d 13:02	1d 22:17	3d 20:35	18:00–48:00
Vulture	35	38	95	100		1:21	2:30	10:00	12:30	1d 01:01	18:00–48:00
Wyvern	80	90	176	194		4:59	9:15	1d 13:02	1d 22:17	3d 20:35	18:00–48:00
Yutyrannus	32	34	90	93		4:59	18:31	3d 02:04	3d 20:35	7d 17:11	18:00–48:00

Notes

• Fertilized Eggs can be kept anywhere until you are ready to hatch them. They won't lose health as long as they are not on the ground.
• The direction the egg is placed on the floor/ground will be the same direction the baby dinosaur faces upon hatching.
• The recommended amount of Air Conditioner is 5-10 because it will incubate most eggs in their ideal temperature.
• Some colder / hotter areas require more air conditioners.
• If the Egg Incubator is utilized, be careful when placing eggs with different temperature requirement, as it can affect the duration of incubation timing.
• The material of the incubation room also determines the insulation quality with thatch being the lowest and metal being the best.
  • Wyvern eggs need to have at least 15 Air Conditioner on Scorched Earth and 12-13 on Ragnarok to be relatively safe from the environment due to its highest temperature requirement.
  • Rock Drake eggs needs to have at least 19 Air Conditioner on Aberration and depending on location, 20-40 on other maps due to its lowest temperature requirement.
  • Megachelon eggs must be incubated at the deep ends of the ocean either at Ragnarok or Genesis Simulation. No amount of air conditioner will work for incubating it on land.