How to Tame Parasaur in ARK
The Parasaurolophus (par-ah-SAWR-OL-uh-fus) or Parasaur is one of the Dinosaurs in ARK: Survival Evolved. It is also referred to as "The poor man's Iguanodon" for the fact that it serves the same purpose as an Iguanodon, but can be tamed much earlier in the game.
Quick Facts
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Temperament
- Passive
- Tame Method
- Passive
- Rideable
- Yes
Parasaur Taming Details
Parasaur is a passive tame — feed it Kibble (preferred) or Crops by hand or from its inventory without knocking it out. Its most effective taming food is Kibble (preferred) or Crops.
Alternative foods: Mejoberry, Other berries, Fresh Vegetables.
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 Parasaur on supported maps. Check the spawn map and bring a fast mount or a flyer for transport.
3. Approach passively
Parasaur 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, equip a saddle (unlocks via the engram tab) to ride your Parasaur.
Parasaur 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 | 200 | +20.0% | +27.0% |
| Stamina | 450 | +10.0% | +10.0% |
| Oxygen | 150 | +10.0% | +10.0% |
| Food | 1500 | +10.0% | +10.0% |
| Weight | 480 | +2.0% | +4.0% |
| Melee damage | 1 | +5.0% | +10.0% |
| Movement speed | 1 | +0.0% | +1.0% |
| Torpidity | 150 | +6.0% | +0.0% |
Taming & saddle figures
Breeding & movement
Where it spawns & other details
Parasaur spawns on Scorched Earth, The Island, Astraeos, The Center, Ragnarok, Valguero, Genesis Part 1, Lost Colony, Extinction.
Parasaur variants
- Aberrant Parasaur
- Eerie Parasaur
- R-Parasaur (Genesis: Part 2)
- Tek Parasaur (Genesis: Part 1)
- X-Parasaur (Genesis: Part 1)
- VR Parasaur (Genesis: Part 2)
- Malfunctioned Tek Parasaur (Genesis: Part 1)
- Revenant Parasaur
Related tools & resources
Parasaur — Background & Lore
The Parasaur is a skittish herbivore with a long head crest. It is one of the earliest rideable creatures, with plenty of stamina for travel. It runs from danger rather than fighting.
Where to find it
It is common on nearly every map: The Island, The Center, Ragnarok, Valguero, Extinction, Scorched Earth and Genesis Part 1 in both games, Astraeos and Lost Colony in ASA, and Crystal Isles, Fjordur, Lost Island and Genesis Part 2 in ASE.
Taming
A knockout tame. It flees when hit, so a bola helps before you knock it out, then feed it crops, berries or herbivore kibble. Its saddle unlocks at level 9. See the taming calculator.
Breeding
- Egg: hatches in about 1 hour 26 minutes.
- Temperature: 24 to 28 °C.
- Growth: a baby matures in about 1.1 days at 1x.
Uses
An early travel mount with high stamina, and a light gatherer of berries.
Tips
It cannot fight off predators, so use it to cover ground and avoid dangerous areas.