Quick answer: To tame a Thylacoleo in ARK Survival Ascended you get it down from its tree, knock it out with tranquilizer arrows or darts and feed it Extraordinary Kibble or, if you have none, Cooked Lamb Chops or Cooked Prime Meat. A level 150 Thylacoleo needs 8 Extraordinary Kibble and about 26 minutes at official 1x rates; on Tharyon, with 8x taming, 1 kibble and roughly 3 minutes are enough.
Updated October 2026 for ARK: Survival Ascended (ASA).
The Thylacoleo, or Thyla, is a marsupial lion that ambushes prey from the trees. Tamed, it is a fast and strong mount that can climb vertical surfaces, ideal for forests and cliffs. Its bite causes bleeding, so it also does well in a fight.
Thylacoleo quick facts in ARK Survival Ascended
| Diet | Carnivore |
|---|---|
| Temperament | Aggressive |
| Taming method | Knockout (knock it out, then feed it) |
| Preferred kibble | Extraordinary Kibble |
| Best food | Cooked Lamb Chop and Cooked Prime Meat |
| How to immobilize it | Chain Bola, Bear Trap, Large Bear Trap, Plant Species Y Trap and Net Projectile |
| How to knock it out | Tranquilizer arrows or darts from range; the head takes 1.5x damage |
| Saddle | Thylacoleo Saddle (level 51) |
| Maps (ASA) | The Island, The Center, Scorched Earth, Ragnarok, Extinction, Valguero, Lost Island |
How to tame a Thylacoleo step by step
- Prepare Extraordinary Kibble or cooked meat plus Narcotics: cooked food takes longer and it will need several.
- Do not walk under its tree. Shoot it from range so it drops to the ground.
- Lure it into a pen or a Bear Trap on a fast mount, then shoot it from a high spot it cannot reach.
- Aim for the head with tranquilizer arrows or darts until it falls asleep.
- Put the food in its inventory and give it Narcotics whenever torpor drops.
- Watch the nearby trees: other Thylacoleos can attack you while you wait.
Thylacoleo taming food and taming calculator
These numbers come from ARK’s taming formula for a level 150 Thylacoleo. 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 | 8 | 26 min | 1 | 3 min |
| Cooked Lamb Chop | 60 | 1 h 52 min | 8 | 15 min |
| Cooked Prime Meat | 81 | 2 h 32 min | 11 | 21 min |
| Prime Meat Jerky | 81 | 2 h 32 min | 11 | 21 min |
| Raw Mutton | 113 | 3 h 32 min | 15 | 28 min |
Thylacoleo taming time by level with Extraordinary Kibble
| Level | Amount 1x | Time 1x | Narcotics 1x | Amount 8x | Time 8x |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 3 | 10 min | 0 | 1 | 3 min |
| 60 | 4 | 13 min | 0 | 1 | 3 min |
| 100 | 6 | 19 min | 13 | 1 | 3 min |
| 150 | 8 | 26 min | 32 | 1 | 3 min |
A level 150 Thylacoleo has about 6958 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 Thylacoleo in ARK Ascended
On The Island it lives in the redwood forests. It spawns clinging to tree trunks and pounces on anything that walks underneath. Look up when crossing the redwoods: there is often more than one in nearby trees.
Official ARK Survival Ascended maps where it spawns: The Island, The Center, Scorched Earth, Ragnarok, Extinction, Valguero, Lost Island.
Thylacoleo abilities and uses
- A bite that causes bleeding and removes 5% of maximum health over 5 seconds.
- Climbs vertical surfaces when you hold the jump key.
- An ambush attack from a wall that pins humans and small or medium creatures.
- Takes reduced fall damage.
Thylacoleo variants
The R-Thylacoleo lives in the Eden biome of Genesis: Part 2; it can be tamed and has slightly more damage and slightly less health than the regular one.
Thylacoleo breeding
Gestation takes 4 h 11 min and the baby needs 2 d to reach adulthood at official rates. On Tharyon (25x hatching and 35x maturation) that drops to about 10 min and 1 h 24 min.
Tips and mistakes to avoid
- If you fly near a Thyla on anything smaller than a Quetzal, it can knock you off your mount.
- A Quetzal or a Wyvern can pluck it off the tree with their grab.
- A Plant Species Y Trap holds it but deals damage and can lower taming effectiveness; a Bear Trap is better.
Tame your Thylacoleo faster on Tharyon
On Tharyon taming runs at 8x: a level 150 Thylacoleo is ready in about 3 min instead of 26 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.
Thylacoleo taming FAQ
What is the best taming food for a Thylacoleo?
Extraordinary Kibble. After that, Cooked Lamb Chops, Cooked Prime Meat, Prime Meat Jerky or Raw Mutton.
How long does it take to tame a Thylacoleo?
A level 150 Thyla takes about 26 minutes with Extraordinary Kibble at 1x. On Tharyon (8x) it takes about 3 minutes.
How do I get a Thylacoleo out of a tree?
Shoot it from range so it drops down, or grab it off the tree with a Quetzal or a Wyvern.
Where does the Thylacoleo live on The Island?
In the redwood forests, clinging to the tree trunks.
What level unlocks the Thylacoleo Saddle?
At level 51.
Why is my Thylacoleo 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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