How to Tame Jerboa in ARK
An adorable shoulder pet that warns players of incoming weather events by changing its behavior.
Quick Facts
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Temperament
- Passive
- Tame Method
- Passive
- Rideable
- No
Jerboa Taming Details
Jerboa is a passive tame — feed it Kibble (preferred) or Crops by hand or from its inventory without knocking it out. It starts with 30 base torpor and gains +1.8 per level. Its most effective taming food is Kibble (preferred) or Crops.
Alternative foods: Mejoberry, Other berries, Fresh Vegetables.
Harvest yield: a tamed or killed Jerboa drops Raw Meat, Hide.
Taming Steps
1. Prepare your gear
Bring Kibble (preferred) or Crops, bug repellent (if applicable), and a shield for emergencies.
2. Locate the creature
Find a wild Jerboa on supported maps. Check the spawn map and bring a fast mount or a flyer for transport.
3. Approach passively
Jerboa is a passive tame. Approach slowly with no weapons drawn, drop or hand-feed its preferred food, and avoid sudden movements.
4. Feed the right food
Place Kibble (preferred) or Crops in its inventory (alternatives: Mejoberry, Other berries, Fresh Vegetables). Higher-tier food gives faster taming and higher level bonuses.
5. Maintain torpor
Keep wild predators away — passive tames are vulnerable while feeding.
6. Claim & saddle
Once tamed, Jerboa will follow your commands. It cannot be ridden.
Jerboa base stats
Level 1 wild values, with the gain each point adds in the wild and after taming.
| Stat | Base | Per wild level | Per tamed level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health | 55 | +20.0% | +27.0% |
| Stamina | 100 | +10.0% | +10.0% |
| Oxygen | 150 | +10.0% | +10.0% |
| Food | 450 | +10.0% | +10.0% |
| Weight | 120 | +2.0% | +4.0% |
| Melee damage | 1 | +5.0% | +10.0% |
| Movement speed | 1 | +0.0% | +1.0% |
| Torpidity | 30 | +6.0% | +0.0% |
Breeding & movement
Where it spawns & other details
Jerboa spawns on Scorched Earth, Ragnarok, Valguero, Genesis Part 1, Astraeos.
Jerboa variants
- Eerie Jerboa
- Skeletal Jerboa (Scorched Earth, Ragnarok, Valguero, Crystal Isles, Genesis: Part 2, Lost Island, Astraeos)
- Jerboa Elf
Related tools & resources
Jerboa — Background & Lore
The Jerboa is a tiny desert rodent that rides on your shoulder and warns you of coming weather by its behavior.
Where to find it
Scorched Earth, Ragnarok and Valguero in both games, Astraeos and Genesis Part 1 in ASA, and Crystal Isles, Lost Island and Genesis Part 2 in ASE.
Taming
A knockout tame: a punch or two is enough. See the taming calculator.
Breeding
- Birth: a live birth, about 2 hours 39 minutes of gestation.
- Growth: a baby matures in about 21 hours at 1x.
Uses
Early warning of heat waves, sandstorms and other weather.
Tips
Watch its behavior on Scorched Earth to find cover before a storm hits.