Building
Terrain mix
Terrain is a percentage range per surface type, checked against what you painted. This page shows which surfaces the 136 records use and their published ranges.
The habitat panel reads the painted surface. That is why terrain is the check that punishes late edits: repainting with animals inside means moving them out first.
| Terrain type | Species using it | Published range |
|---|---|---|
| Soil | 85 | 0–100% |
| Rock | 85 | 0–100% |
| Sand | 80 | 0–100% |
| Grass | 53 | 0–100% |
| Snow | 10 | 0–100% |
| Long Grass | 9 | 15–100% |
| Coarse Sand | 5 | 0–5% |
| Fine Sand | 4 | 20–100% |
- Soil, rock and sand are the three most common surfaces across the roster — plan for them early.
- Ranges are minimum–maximum, so a species may accept between 20% and 60% soil, not exactly 40%.
- Some exhibit species publish no terrain mix; their page shows the gap instead of a made-up value.
FAQ
FAQ
Common questions about this topic.
Do I need every listed terrain type?
Only within the published ranges — the minimums matter, the maximums cap how much you can use.
Why does terrain matter more than objects?
Because the check reads the painted surface area, not the props placed on it.
Where are the numbers?
In the care requirements table of each species page.