Quick answer: To tame a Ceratosaurus in ARK Survival Ascended you need level 60 and the Hemogoblin Cocktail: feed it to one of your creatures as bait, let the wild Ceratosaurus attack it until it is blood drunk, then feed it Extraordinary Kibble while it is awake, roughly once a minute. It is not knocked out with tranquilizers.
Updated October 2026 for ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA).
The Ceratosaurus is a mid-sized carnivore from the ARK Additions mod, the first creature from that mod brought into the official game. Its venom heals it based on the enemy’s health and, once tamed, it also heals nearby allied carnivores. It also lays extraordinary eggs with no special conditions.
Ceratosaurus quick facts in ARK Survival Ascended
| Diet | Carnivore |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Extremely aggressive |
| Taming method | Passive (feed it while it is awake) |
| Preferred kibble | Extraordinary Kibble |
| How to immobilize it | Traps do not help much: it rarely attacks inside structures |
| How to knock it out | It is not knocked out: it gets blood drunk attacking a bait creature and is then fed while awake |
| Saddle | Ceratosaurus Saddle (level 60) |
| Maps (ASA) | The Island, Scorched Earth, The Center, Extinction, Ragnarok, Valguero, Genesis: Part 1, Astraeos, Lost Colony |
How to tame a Ceratosaurus step by step
- Reach level 60 to unlock the Hemogoblin Cocktail. It is crafted with Cerato Venom Spines, dropped by wild Ceratosaurus when killed.
- Pick a bait creature with lots of health and a good saddle, such as a Stegosaurus or Rock Elemental, and clear the area. Put it against a natural wall.
- Feed the cocktail to your bait: for 180 seconds it attracts wild Ceratosaurus.
- Let the Ceratosaurus attack the bait until it is fully blood drunk. High-level ones need at least 3 cocktails; do not leave gaps between them or the progress is lost.
- While the drunk state lasts (10 minutes), feed it Extraordinary Kibble from the last hotbar slot about every 60 seconds until it finishes.
Ceratosaurus taming food and taming calculator
These numbers come from ARK’s taming formula for a level 150 Ceratosaurus. 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extraordinary Kibble | 20 | 1 h 58 min | 3 | 18 min |
Ceratosaurus taming time by level with Extraordinary Kibble
| Level | Amount 1x | Time 1x | Amount 8x | Time 8x |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 6 | 35 min | 1 | 6 min |
| 60 | 10 | 59 min | 2 | 12 min |
| 100 | 14 | 1 h 23 min | 2 | 12 min |
| 150 | 20 | 1 h 58 min | 3 | 18 min |
Where to find the Ceratosaurus in ARK Ascended
It is found on most official ARK Survival Ascended maps; Scorched Earth has fewer since its spawns were cut by about half. It is a mid-sized theropod with a horn on its snout that attacks on sight, so try to spot it before it spots you.
Official ARK Survival Ascended maps where it spawns: The Island, Scorched Earth, The Center, Extinction, Ragnarok, Valguero, Genesis: Part 1, Astraeos, Lost Colony.
Ceratosaurus abilities and uses
- Envenoms when attacking or being hit; when the venom ends, it heals based on the target’s total health.
- When tamed, it shares that healing with nearby allied carnivores, even in boss fights.
- Builds speed while running and, at full speed, breaks trees and rocks and hits harder with its horn.
- Reflects 7% of the melee damage it takes.
- A tail lash that hits everything around it when aimed to the side or back.
Ceratosaurus breeding
The egg takes 5 h to hatch and the baby needs 5 d 12 h to reach adulthood at official rates. The egg needs 32-34 °C. On Tharyon (25x hatching and 35x maturation) that drops to about 12 min and 3 h 47 min.
Tips and mistakes to avoid
- If a wild one attacks you, fight from range and finish fast: its venom heals it.
- It swims badly: escape into deep water or onto an aquatic mount.
- Its eggs are extraordinary with no conditions, perfect for making Extraordinary Kibble.
Tame your Ceratosaurus faster on Tharyon
On Tharyon taming runs at 8x: a level 150 Ceratosaurus is ready in about 18 min instead of 1 h 58 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.
Ceratosaurus taming FAQ
How do you tame a Ceratosaurus in ARK Ascended?
With the Hemogoblin Cocktail: give it to a bait creature, the Ceratosaurus attacks it until blood drunk, then feed it Extraordinary Kibble while awake.
What level do I need to tame a Ceratosaurus?
Level 60, which is when the Hemogoblin Cocktail and the saddle unlock.
What kibble does the Ceratosaurus eat?
Extraordinary Kibble.
How many Hemogoblin Cocktails do you need?
High-level ones need at least 3, given back to back so the drunk progress is not lost.
What level unlocks the Ceratosaurus Saddle?
At level 60.
Why is my Ceratosaurus 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.
ES 
EN 
DE 
FR