Planet Zoo 2 habitats
Four enclosure types, four completely different build budgets. Pick the type before the animal, not after.
The Zoopedia assigns every species one or more enclosure types. The differences are not cosmetic: aquariums bring filtration and water chemistry, aviaries bring covered structures, exhibits bring small housings with their own temperature control.
What changes between the four types
| Type | Key systems | Typical first cost |
|---|---|---|
| Terrestrial | Barrier, terrain paint, shelter, enrichment | Lowest — no water systems |
| Aquarium | Filtration, deep water area, salinity, staff airlocks | High — running costs too |
| Aviary | Covered enclosure, perches, flight space, barrier height | Medium |
| Exhibit | Housing unit, temperature, humidity | Lowest per unit, smallest space |
Shared rules
- Barrier grade and minimum height are per species — read them before designing the fence line. Climb-proof species need a closed top.
- Terrain is checked as painted surface — percentages in the species table are ranges, not targets you can exceed.
- Shelter counts separately from land area — both values are on the species page.
- Temperature is a habitat value — heaters and coolers are a permanent cost.
Building pages
- Barriers — grade, height and climb-proof rules
- Terrain — mix percentages and what they check
- Plants — vegetation by biome
- Water and filtration — deep water and salinity
- Utilities — power, water and staff facilities
- Viewing — guest flow and walk-through habitats
- Safety and escape — official state
Enclosure-specific guides
Aquariums
Filtration, salinity, deep water and airlocks.
Read guideGuideAviaries
Covered enclosures, perches and flight space.
Read guideGuideExhibits
Small housings, temperature and humidity.
Read guideGuideAnimal database
Filter species by enclosure type.
Read guideGuideWelfare guide
What a habitat warning actually means.
Read guideGuideResearch
Which items research unlocks for a habitat.
Read guideTerrain and barriers in numbers
Species pages print terrain ranges and barrier grade exactly as the Zoopedia holds them: the giant panda needs a grade-4 barrier at 2 m with grass covering 10–50% of the surface, for example. Those are the values the game checks.
FAQ
Common questions about this topic.
Which habitat type is cheapest to start with?
Terrestrial habitats and exhibits. Aquariums add filtration and water values that must be maintained from day one.
Can a species live in more than one enclosure type?
Yes, the Zoopedia lists every type a species accepts. Where two are listed, either works.
Do barriers have to be climb-proof?
Only for species flagged that way — the species page shows the flag explicitly in the care table.
Where do I find the terrain percentages?
In the care requirements table on each species page, as a range per terrain type.