Cheapest animals to feed in Planet Zoo 2
The recurring bill is what kills new zoos. Here are the 40 cheapest species, ranked.
The recurring food bill is what kills new zoos. Two expensive habitats can eat the profit of ten cheap ones.
The 40 cheapest species to feed
| Species | Status | Space | Food / period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greater Flamingo | Least Concern | 100 m² land | $36 |
| African Penguin | Critically Endangered | 180 m² land · 67 m² water | $84 |
| Wild Boar | Least Concern | 310 m² land | $111 |
| Bluespine Unicornfish | Least Concern | 50 m² water | $116 |
| Common Warthog | Least Concern | 290 m² land | $117 |
| Yellow Tang | Least Concern | 50 m² water | $117 |
| Blunthead Cichlid | Least Concern | 50 m² water | $120 |
| Clown Anemonefish | Least Concern | 50 m² water | $120 |
| Clown Loach | Least Concern | 100 m² water | $120 |
| Common Rudd | Least Concern | 50 m² water | $121 |
| Mountain Hare | Least Concern | 200 m² land | $121 |
| Schooling Bannerfish | Least Concern | 50 m² water | $121 |
| Pacific Sardine | Least Concern | 50 m² water | $124 |
| Blue And Gold Fusilier | Least Concern | 50 m² water | $125 |
| Brown Trout | Least Concern | 50 m² water | $125 |
| Giant Gourami | Least Concern | 100 m² water | $125 |
| Nile Monitor | Least Concern | 220 m² land | $125 |
| Palette Surgeonfish | Least Concern | 50 m² water | $125 |
| Sailfin Snapper | Least Concern | 40 m² water | $126 |
| Golden Trevally | Least Concern | 100 m² water | $129 |
| Boeseman's Rainbowfish | Endangered | 50 m² water | $130 |
| Longfin Batfish | Least Concern | 100 m² water | $130 |
| Threespot Damselfish | Least Concern | 50 m² water | $130 |
| African Tigerfish | Least Concern | 100 m² water | $132 |
| Clown Triggerfish | Least Concern | 16 m² water | $132 |
| Indian Ocean Oriental Sweetlips | Least Concern | 100 m² water | $132 |
| Springbok | Least Concern | 425 m² land | $164 |
| Thomson's Gazelle | Least Concern | 425 m² land | $164 |
| Black Wildebeest | Least Concern | 410 m² land | $169 |
| Blue Wildebeest | Least Concern | 410 m² land | $169 |
| Red Deer | Least Concern | 360 m² land | $173 |
| Plains Zebra | Near Threatened | 460 m² land | $174 |
| Nyala | Least Concern | 340 m² land | $175 |
| Meerkat | Least Concern | 180 m² land | $176 |
| Koi | — | 50 m² water | $180 |
| Eurasian Bittern | Least Concern | 40 m² land | $191 |
| Indo Pacific Sergeant | Least Concern | 50 m² water | $194 |
| Dolphinfish | Least Concern | 400 m² water | $197 |
| Red Lionfish | Least Concern | 16 m² water | $199 |
| Blackspotted Puffer | Least Concern | 16 m² water | $204 |
What the numbers mean
Food cost scales roughly with body mass and diet. The cheapest species cluster in the low hundreds per period; large carnivores sit several times higher. Because the bill repeats, the difference compounds over a long save.
If your zoo is bleeding money, this table is the first place to look — and the starter animal guide is where to start rebuilding.
Cheap does not mean boring
Several low-cost species support walkthrough habitats, which lets you charge entry to a close-up experience without a headline predator's bills. Check each animal's page for the walkthrough flag before you buy.