
Creating a profitable zoo in Raise Animals isn’t so much about catching every animal you lay eyes on it’s about choosing the right animals that will give you the biggest earnings and get you progressing faster. After thoroughly studying spawn rates, base values, mutation potential, and overall profitability, I’ve compiled this detailed tier list to guide you into making the wisest decisions for your farm.
Selecting which animals to focus on in Raise Animals can be the difference between progress and failure. Certain animals make thousands of dollars per minute and others hardly make anything for your wallet. This tier list rates all animals based on four of their most important factors: base value (40%), mutation chance (30%), spawn frequency and availability (20%), and special abilities (10%). Whether you’re a new player just beginning or a seasoned player looking to maximize your zoo, this guide will demonstrate precisely which animals are worth your time and resources.
| Tier | Best Animals | Income Range | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|
| God Tier | Medusa, Phoenix, Orca (Rainbow) | $10,000-$14,500/min | Must obtain – Top priority |
| S-Tier | Whale Shark, Rainbow Lion, Whale, Shark | $1,800-$8,000/min | Highly recommended |
| A-Tier | Unicorn, Turtle, Crab, Polar Bear | $500-$1,500/min | Solid mid-game choices |
| B-Tier | Seal, Tiger, Panda | $200-$500/min | Good for beginners |
| C-Tier | Giraffe, Monkey, Dolphin | $100-$200/min | Early game only |
| D-Tier | Elephant, Penguin | $50-$100/min | Starter animals |
These are the absolute best animals in Raise Animals. If you can get your hands on any of these, your income will skyrocket immediately.
Base Value: 250,000 | Income: Variable | Acquisition: Shop Exclusive
Medusa is at the top of everyone’s wishlist of serious players for good reason. Since she is a shop-only pet, she is extremely rare and has the top base value in the entire game at 250,000. What is truly special about Medusa is her potential for mutation under the proper weather conditions, especially Disco weather which has a +1000% bonus, a mutated Medusa will have values over 2.75 million. That is more money off of a single pet than most players make from their zoo total.
Pro Strategy: Save your Rubies specifically for Medusa. When she appears in the shop, don’t hesitate she’s worth every Ruby you spend. Once you have her, time your sales around Disco weather events for maximum profit.
Base Value: 200,000 | Income: ~$14,500/min | Acquisition: Distance Unlock (5,000m)
The Phoenix is the most coveted naturally-spawning animal in Raise Animals. To unlock it, you need to travel 5,000 meters total in the rodeo minigame, which sounds daunting but becomes achievable with practice. Once unlocked, Phoenix enters your spawn pool and can appear during runs. The Phoenix’s combination of ultra-rare status, massive base value, and extraordinary mutation potential (mutations can push values beyond 1 million) makes it essential for late-game wealth building.
How to Get Phoenix: Focus on distance-based runs rather than trying to catch every animal. Use your fastest mount, avoid obstacles carefully, and keep practicing. The 5,000-meter milestone unlocks Phoenix permanently, so every meter counts. Once unlocked, Phoenix has an extremely low spawn rate, so you’ll need patience and multiple runs.
Base Value: Variable | Income: ~$10,000+/min | Acquisition: Ocean Biome (0.5% spawn rate)
The Rainbow Orca represents the pinnacle of ocean wildlife in Raise Animals. With only a 0.5% spawn rate, it’s one of the rarest animals you can catch through normal gameplay. What sets the Rainbow Orca apart is its excellent synergy with Ocean weather events, which provide a +300% value bonus. During optimal weather conditions, a Rainbow Orca’s value can multiply exponentially, especially if it gains additional mutations.
Farming Tips: The Ocean biome must be unlocked first (costs vary based on progression). Use your best lasso when attempting to catch rare spawns. Join the official Discord server to get notifications about Ocean weather events, then farm during those 5-minute windows for the best chances at valuable catches.
These animals offer exceptional value and should be your primary targets once you’ve progressed past the beginner stage.

Base Value: High | Income: ~$8,000/min | Rarity: Shiny (1% spawn rate)
The Whale Shark combines decent spawn rates with outstanding profit potential. At 1% spawn rate, it’s significantly more accessible than God Tier animals while still providing strong income. As a Shiny rarity animal, it has better mutation chances than lower-tier creatures, and every mutation directly multiplies its already-impressive base value.
Base Value: High | Income: Variable | Acquisition: Savannah Biome (1% Rainbow spawn)
The standard Lion is already a good Legendary animal from the Savannah, but the Rainbow variant takes it to another level. Lions spawn after 500-700 meters in the Savannah biome, with a 1% chance for the Rainbow version. What makes Rainbow Lion special is its accessibility the Savannah is typically one of the first biomes players unlock, making this S-Tier animal obtainable much earlier in your progression than other top-tier creatures.
Early Game Strategy: If you’re serious about fast progression, farm the Savannah extensively once unlocked. Regular Lions are solid B-Tier animals, but every run has that 1% chance of spawning a Rainbow Lion that will transform your early-game income.
Base Value: High | Income: ~$5,000/min | Acquisition: Ocean Biome (2% spawn rate)
The Whale is the most reliable Legendary in the Ocean biome. With a 2% spawn rate, you’ll encounter Whales fairly regularly during Ocean runs, making them a consistent source of high-value animals for your zoo. They lack the explosive potential of Rainbow Orca or Whale Shark, but their reliability makes them excellent for steady income growth.
Base Value: High | Income: Variable | Acquisition: Ocean Biome (Requires Seal mount)
Sharks are unique S-Tier animals because they require a specific strategy to catch. You must first catch and equip a Seal as your mount, then use the Seal to hunt Sharks. This high-skill, high-reward system rewards players who master the catching mechanics. Successfully farming Sharks provides consistent access to Legendary animals without relying purely on spawn rate luck.
Advanced Technique: Keep at least one Seal permanently in your collection even after catching Sharks. You’ll need it for repeated Shark farming runs. Use your best lasso and practice the timing Sharks are fast and require precise lasso throws.
These animals provide good value without the extreme rarity of higher tiers. They’re perfect for filling out your zoo while you hunt for S and God Tier animals.
Biome: Fantasy | Rarity: Legendary
The Unicorn is the flagship Legendary of the Fantasy biome, offering balanced stats that make it a reliable mid-game companion. While it doesn’t have the explosive profit potential of God Tier animals, its consistent performance and reasonable spawn rate make it a solid choice for players building their zoo infrastructure.
Biome: Ocean | Rarity: Epic (8% spawn rate)
Don’t let the Epic rarity fool you Turtle is one of the best value propositions in Raise Animals. Its 8% spawn rate means you’ll catch multiple Turtles quickly, allowing you to fill zoo slots without endless grinding. While individual Turtles won’t make you rich, having several with good mutations provides steady, reliable income that funds your hunting for rarer animals.
Biome: Ocean | Rarity: Epic (10% spawn rate)
Crabs share Turtle’s philosophy high spawn rates mean easy farming. With 10% spawn rate, Crabs are the most common Epic animals, making them perfect for players who want to maximize zoo capacity quickly. Farm multiple Crabs, keep the best ones, and sell duplicates for immediate cash to unlock new biomes.
Biome: Tundra | Rarity: Legendary (3.5% spawn rate)
The Polar Bear is the Tundra’s king, offering solid Legendary-tier value with a spawn rate that makes it reasonably obtainable. It sits in the sweet spot between “too rare to farm reliably” and “common enough to get bored.” Three to four Polar Bears in your zoo provide substantial passive income while you hunt for S-Tier and above.
These animals serve important roles in early-game progression or have specific utility that makes them worth keeping.
Biome: Ocean | Purpose: Required for Shark Catching
Seal deserves special mention despite its B-Tier income classification. You absolutely must keep at least one Seal in your collection because it’s the only mount that allows you to catch Sharks. Never sell your last Seal, even if you’re desperate for cash. The ability to farm S-Tier Sharks is worth far more than the immediate income from selling a Seal.
Biome: Jungle | Spawn Rate: 4%
Tigers are solid early-game predators from the Jungle biome. They provide decent income for beginning players and help you learn the catching mechanics. Once you’ve progressed to A-Tier and above animals, Tigers become obsolete, but they serve an important role in your first few hours of gameplay.
Biome: Forest | Spawn Rate: 7%
Pandas are popular among collectors for their appearance and have decent accessibility with a 7% spawn rate. They provide reasonable income for early-mid game players and are common enough that you can catch multiple for zoo variety without significant time investment.
These animals are fine when you’re just starting, but should be replaced quickly. Giraffe (12% spawn) and Monkey (18% spawn) from Jungle, and Dolphin (20% spawn) from Ocean are stepping stones to better animals. Catch a few, learn the mechanics, then move on.
Elephant (25% spawn) is technically your first “real” animal after the starter Buffalo Manzy, while Penguin (30% spawn, Tundra) is the most common creature in its biome. Keep one Elephant because you need to ride five Elephants and travel 2,500 meters to unlock Ice Mammoth, but otherwise, these are purely transitional animals.
Understanding the tiers is one thing, but knowing how to apply this knowledge is what separates successful players from those who struggle. Here’s my recommended progression strategy:
Start with D and C Tier animals to learn game mechanics. Catch multiple Elephants, Giraffes, and Monkeys to generate initial income. Don’t worry about perfect animals yet focus on understanding how lassos, catching, and zoo placement work. Your goal is to generate enough cash to unlock your first premium biome.
Once you have 10,000+ cash and understand the basics, shift focus entirely to B-Tier and above. Stop catching D/F Tier animals unless they’re needed for unlocks (like Elephant for Ice Mammoth). Target Polar Bears, Tigers, and particularly Turtles and Crabs for consistent income. This phase is about building a solid income foundation that funds your grinding for elite animals.
Now you’re hunting exclusively for S-Tier and God Tier animals. Every run should be focused on distance (for Phoenix unlock), rare spawns (Rainbow Orca, Whale Shark), or specific high-value targets. Sell all B-Tier and lower animals except utility creatures like Seal. Your zoo should consist primarily of A-Tier minimum, with S and God Tier as centerpieces.
Weather events are absolutely crucial for maximizing animal value. Understanding weather mechanics can literally multiply your income by 10x or more.
Disco Weather (+1000% value) This is the holy grail. Disco weather events are ultra-rare, occurring roughly once every 12-24 hours, and last only 5 minutes. When Disco weather activates, any animals in your zoo can gain the Disco mutation, which multiplies their value by 11x. A God Tier animal with Disco mutation becomes worth tens of millions.
Volcano Weather (+500% value) More common than Disco but still rare, Volcano events provide a 6x multiplier. This is excellent for S-Tier and above animals.
Ocean Weather (+300% value) Specifically benefits ocean animals, Ocean weather makes your Orcas, Whales, and Whale Sharks significantly more valuable.
After analyzing thousands of player farms and strategies, I’ve identified the most common mistakes that hold players back:
Many new players catch everything they see and try to keep it all. This is a trap. Zoo space is limited, and every slot occupied by a D or C Tier animal is a slot that could hold an S-Tier creature worth 20x more. Be ruthless sell low-tier animals quickly to make room for better ones.
Some players get so focused on catching animals in their current biome that they forget about distance-based unlocks. Phoenix (5,000m) and Ice Mammoth (2,500m with 5 Elephant rides) are game-changing animals that require specific unlock conditions. Make dedicated “distance runs” where you prioritize survival and travel over catching.
Using basic lassos when trying to catch Legendary or Rainbow animals is a waste of time. Your lasso’s Power and Range stats directly affect catch success rates. Invest Rubies in better lassos from the Lasso Gacha, and always equip your best lasso when hunting high-value targets.
The shop rotates stock regularly, and some of the best animals (like Medusa) are shop-exclusive. Check the shop every day, save your Rubies for important purchases, and don’t waste Rubies on low-value items when God Tier animals might appear tomorrow.
Weather multipliers affect sale price. If you sell a Whale during normal weather, you might get $5,000. That same Whale during Volcano weather could sell for $30,000. Unless you desperately need cash, wait for favorable weather before selling your best animals.
Animals can receive multiple mutations from different weather events. A Phoenix with both Disco (+1000%) and Volcano (+500%) mutations doesn’t just add those bonuses they multiply. This exponential scaling means a base 200,000 Phoenix can become worth several million with the right mutation stack. The strategy: Never sell high-tier animals with good mutations. Keep them in your zoo, expose them to every weather event possible, and watch their value compound over time.
This is an advanced technique used by top players. Create a second Roblox account, play through the tutorial, and use it to “farm” common animals. Then trade those animals to your main account for minimal cost, essentially doubling your catching efficiency. This is particularly effective for farming B and A-Tier animals quickly to generate cash for your main account’s God Tier purchases.
Important Note: Trading requires mutual agreement between accounts. Set fair trade values based on rarity and don’t exploit the system in ways that violate Roblox’s terms of service.
Set up Discord notifications on your phone for the official Raise Animals server’s weather channel. When rare weather activates, you get instant notification. This allows you to log in during Disco or Volcano weather even if you’re away from home, potentially catching mutations that make you millions. The players making billions aren’t just lucky they’re consistently present during weather events.
Different biomes have different optimal farming times based on weather, spawn rates, and your current needs. Rather than grinding one biome endlessly, rotate through biomes strategically:
Medusa is the single best animal in Raise Animals due to her 250,000 base value and extreme mutation potential. With Disco weather, a mutated Medusa can exceed 2.75 million in value, making her worth more than hundreds of common animals combined. However, she’s shop-exclusive and requires significant Ruby investment. For naturally-spawning animals, Phoenix is the top choice at $14,500 per minute base income.
To unlock Phoenix, you must travel a total of 5,000 meters in the rodeo minigame. This is cumulative across all runs, so every attempt counts toward your progress. Once you hit 5,000 meters total, Phoenix permanently enters your spawn pool and can appear during future runs. Focus on survival and distance rather than catching every animal you see. Use your fastest mount and practice obstacle avoidance.
The fastest money-making method is catching and selling mutated S-Tier and God Tier animals during favorable weather. A single Phoenix with good mutations during Disco weather can sell for millions. Short-term, farm A-Tier animals like Turtles and Crabs (high spawn rates) to build base income, then reinvest that cash into unlocking biomes where rare animals spawn. Join Discord for weather notifications to maximize mutation opportunities.
Keep exactly one Elephant until you’ve ridden five and traveled 2,500 meters (to unlock Ice Mammoth), then you can sell it. Penguins can be sold immediately they only serve as starter animals for the Tundra biome. The general rule: sell all D and C-Tier animals once you have consistent access to B-Tier and above. Zoo space is valuable, and every slot should generate maximum income.
Weather events occur randomly at XX:00 and XX:30 every hour and last 5 minutes. During these events, animals in your zoo have a chance to gain mutations that multiply their value. Different weather types provide different bonuses: Disco (+1000%), Volcano (+500%), Ocean (+300%), and others. Animals can stack multiple mutations, and the multipliers compound exponentially. Always have your best animals placed during weather events.
Yes, Rainbow and Shiny animals can spawn naturally during runs, but their spawn rates are extremely low (typically 0.5-1%). You cannot “make” an animal Rainbow or Shiny it must spawn that way. Rainbow Orca, Rainbow Lion, and Shiny Whale Shark are examples of rare variants that are simply upgraded versions of their base animals with better stats and appearance.
S-Tier lassos from the Lasso Gacha are essential for catching Legendary, Rainbow, and Shiny animals consistently. These lassos have high Power and Range ratings, making it much easier to rope in rare creatures before they escape. Save your Rubies for premium lasso pulls rather than spending them on food or minor upgrades. A good lasso is the difference between catching and missing a Phoenix.
Keep S-Tier and God Tier animals in your zoo until they gain valuable mutations from weather events. Sell D and C-Tier animals immediately. For B and A-Tier animals, keep them if you need income diversity, but sell duplicates. The strategy is to constantly upgrade your zoo by replacing lower-tier animals with higher-tier ones. Space is limited, so every animal should justify its slot.
The shop in Raise Animals restocks regularly throughout the day. Exact times can vary, but shop-exclusive animals like Medusa appear randomly during these restocks. Join the official Discord server where community members often announce shop restocks and rare animal availability. Having Rubies saved specifically for shop purchases is a smart long-term strategy.
Raise Animals is a spin-off of Grow a Garden created by the same developer. While Grow a Garden focuses on planting, growing, and harvesting crops with occasional animal companions, Raise Animals centers entirely on catching, raising, and profiting from animals through a zoo management system. The games share similar passive income mechanics and weather event systems, but their core gameplay loops are distinct.
Mastering Raise Animals is really all about three general principles: focus on high-tier animals, make the most out of weather event opportunities, and strategically utilize your zoo space. Concentrate on God Tier animals such as Medusa, Phoenix, and Rainbow Orca one of these with decent mutations is more valuable than a zoo full of lowly animals.
Keep in mind that development is a marathon, not a sprint. Begin with C and D-Tier animals to understand mechanics, switch immediately to B and A-Tier for steady revenue, and then dedicate all your resources to S and God Tier animal hunting. Participate in the official Discord for weather alerts, spend money on good lassos, and never cease optimizing your zoo composition.
The billion-dollar players aren’t lucky, they’re strategic, patient, and always at their stations during do-or-die weather happenings. With this tier list as your guide, you now possess the expertise to become a part of their ranks. Whether or not you’re catching your first Elephant or farming your tenth Phoenix mutation, make every move count. Your journey to becoming the ultimate zoo tycoon begins today.