Quick answer: To tame a Parasaur in ARK Survival Ascended you hold it with a bola, knock it out with a club or Slingshot and feed it Basic Kibble or, if you have none, Archelon Algae, vegetables or Mejoberries. A level 150 Parasaur needs 8 Basic Kibble and about 7 minutes at official 1x rates; on Tharyon, with 8x taming, 1 kibble and under a minute are enough.
Updated October 2026 for ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA).
The Parasaur is one of the first mounts most players get: fast, easy to tame and with a saddle that unlocks very early. It also works as an alarm: in turret mode it warns you about nearby threats, which keeps it useful even in advanced bases.
Parasaur quick facts in ARK Survival Ascended
| Diet | Herbivore |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Skittish |
| Taming method | Knockout (knock it out, then feed it) |
| Preferred kibble | Basic Kibble |
| Best food | Archelon Algae and Vegetables |
| How to immobilize it | Bola, Bear Trap, Large Bear Trap, Plant Species Y Trap and Net Projectile |
| How to knock it out | Club, spear or fists after holding it with a bola; Slingshot or tranquilizer arrows. The head takes 2x damage |
| Saddle | Parasaur Saddle (level 9) |
| Maps (ASA) | The Island, The Center, Scorched Earth, Ragnarok, Extinction, Valguero, Genesis: Part 1, Lost Island |
How to tame a Parasaur step by step
- Craft some bolas and a club or Slingshot; bring Basic Kibble or Mejoberries.
- Get close and throw a bola at its legs so it cannot run.
- Hit it in the head (it takes double damage) until it is out, without overdoing it once it is unconscious.
- If it breaks free, throw another bola. You can also trap it between rocks or trees.
- Put the food in its inventory and guard it for a few minutes.
Parasaur taming food and taming calculator
These numbers come from ARK’s taming formula for a level 150 Parasaur. The 1x column is the official rate and the 8x column is Tharyon’s rate. They are estimates: hitting the sleeping creature or a game patch can change them slightly.
| Food | Amount 1x | Time 1x | Amount 8x (Tharyon) | Time 8x (Tharyon) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Kibble | 8 | 7 min | 1 | 52 s |
| Archelon Algae (ASA) | 20 | 8 min | 3 | 1 min |
| Vegetables | 80 | 32 min | 10 | 4 min |
| Mejoberry | 107 | 32 min | 14 | 4 min |
| Berries | 160 | 32 min | 20 | 4 min |
Parasaur taming time by level with Basic Kibble
| Level | Amount 1x | Time 1x | Narcotics 1x | Amount 8x | Time 8x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 3 | 3 min | 0 | 1 | 52 s |
| 60 | 4 | 3 min | 0 | 1 | 52 s |
| 100 | 6 | 5 min | 0 | 1 | 52 s |
| 150 | 8 | 7 min | 0 | 1 | 52 s |
A level 150 Parasaur has about 1491 torpor. With the amounts in the table you usually do not need narcotics on Tharyon, but bring a few in case it takes longer than expected.
Where to find the Parasaur in ARK Ascended
It is one of the few creatures that spawns on every map, usually in starter areas such as beaches and grasslands. On The Island the Tek version can also appear. It runs as soon as it sees you, so approach with a bola ready.
Official ARK Survival Ascended maps where it spawns: The Island, The Center, Scorched Earth, Ragnarok, Extinction, Valguero, Genesis: Part 1, Lost Island.
Parasaur abilities and uses
- Scan: marks possible targets with a red aura that your allies can see.
- Turret mode: it stands still and alerts you with sound and visuals to nearby threats.
- A roar that scares small and medium creatures for a few seconds.
- A fast mount from level 9 and a good early berry gatherer.
Parasaur variants
The Tek Parasaur spawns in the wild at a 5% rate and 20% higher level. The Aberrant Parasaur (Aberration) and the X-Parasaur (Bog biome on Genesis: Part 1) can also be tamed; the Malfunctioned Tek and VR versions cannot.
Parasaur breeding
The egg takes 1 h 26 min to hatch and the baby needs 1 d 2 h 27 min to reach adulthood at official rates. The egg needs 24-28 °C. On Tharyon (25x hatching and 35x maturation) that drops to about 3 min and 45 min.
Tips and mistakes to avoid
- Stop hitting it once it is asleep: extra damage lowers taming effectiveness.
- Turret mode burns food faster; keep food in its inventory.
- It is very common along the coast: if you lose one, you will soon find another.
Tame your Parasaur faster on Tharyon
On Tharyon taming runs at 8x: a level 150 Parasaur is ready in about 52 s instead of 7 min.
- ARK Survival Ascended with crossplay: PC, PS5 and Xbox.
- 8x taming, 2.5x XP and harvesting, 35x maturation and 25x hatching.
- 11 PvE maps: The Island, The Center, Scorched Earth, Aberration, Extinction, Ragnarok, Valguero, Lost Island, Genesis 1, Astraeos and Forglar.
- Automatic events (a supply crate every 60 minutes and an event creature every 70), quests and an in-game shop.
To join, hop into our Discord and use the /link command. See every rate in the rates section.
Parasaur taming FAQ
What does the Parasaur eat for taming?
Basic Kibble first; after that Archelon Algae, vegetables, Mejoberries or regular berries.
How long does it take to tame a Parasaur?
A level 150 one takes about 7 minutes with Basic Kibble at 1x. On Tharyon (8x) it takes under a minute.
How do you get a Tek Parasaur?
It spawns in the wild on The Island at a 5% rate and a slightly higher level; look for it among regular Parasaurs.
What is the Parasaur good for?
It is a fast early mount and, in turret mode, warns you of threats near your base.
What level unlocks the Parasaur Saddle?
At level 9.
Why is my Parasaur not taming?
It is almost always one of these: it is not hungry yet (it only eats when its food bar drops, so the first bite can take a while), the food in its inventory is not one it accepts, it woke up because torpor ran out, or something is attacking it. Check that the taming bar goes up every time it eats.
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