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New to Slime Rancher 2? This guide helps you manage your slimes' basic needs, from food and living space to safety. Learn how to keep your ranch thriving!

Hey there, new rancher! So, you've gotten yourself some slimes, huh? Awesome! It might seem like they're just cute little blobs that eat and poop, but trust me, they're more like livestock than a get-rich-quick scheme. Some folks jump in and have no clue what they're doing, and others might be running into trouble without knowing why. That's where this guide comes in. We're going to cover the essentials: making sure your slimes are fed, have a comfy place to live, and stay safe. We'll also dive into the big debate about corralling versus letting them roam free. Don't worry, I'll walk you through it!

Just a heads-up, this guide won't cover Largo slimes or how to find specific slimes – those are for other guides. We're focusing on the core stuff here.

Managing Your Slimes' Basic Needs

It's easy to think slimes just need food and a pen, but there's a bit more to it. Getting their needs right is key to a happy and productive ranch.

Food

This is probably the most important thing. Your slimes need to eat regularly to produce plorts. How you feed them depends on whether you keep them in corrals or let them roam.

• When You Use Corrals: Make sure you have a feeder in their corral. You'll need to keep it stocked with the right kind of food for whichever slimes you've put in there. If you're raising multiple types of slimes together (which you should avoid unless they're Tarr-resistant!), make sure the food you provide is something they all eat.
• When You Use Free-Range: This is a bit trickier. If your slimes are roaming free, they'll need access to food sources in the wild. This means you need to ensure there are plenty of their favorite foods scattered around the areas they frequent. You might also want to consider placing feeders in strategic spots, but be warned, they might not always use them if they can find food elsewhere.
• A Short Note About Puddle/Fire Slimes: These guys are special. Puddle slimes don't eat food at all – they just need water. Fire slimes, on the other hand, eat only cooked meat and can't be kept in corrals without special upgrades.

Living Space

Slimes need space, but not too much! Overcrowding can lead to problems.

• How To Tell If You Have Too Many Slimes: If your slimes are constantly hungry, or if you're seeing a lot of them trying to squeeze into one spot, you probably have too many for the space you've given them.
• When You Do Have Too Many Slimes...: You'll need to either expand their living area (if they're in corrals) or consider relocating some of them to a different ranch area or a new corral.

Safety

This is super important, especially as you start mixing different slime types.

• Tarr Prevention: Tarr slimes are nasty! They appear when different slime types eat plorts that aren't their own. The best way to prevent them is to NEVER mix slimes that aren't Tarr-resistant in the same corral or area. Always make sure your slimes have access to their preferred food so they don't get desperate and eat other plorts.
• The Incinerator: If you end up with Tarr slimes, the Incinerator is your best friend. It's a building that lets you safely dispose of unwanted slimes or plorts. Make sure you have one handy if you're experimenting with slime combinations.

The Great Corralling Debate

So, should you keep your slimes locked up or let them run wild? Both have their upsides and downsides.

Corrals

• Pros: Easier to manage feeding, plort collection, and prevents them from wandering off or causing trouble elsewhere. You have more control.
• Cons: Takes up space, requires building and upgrading, and slimes might get bored or stressed if the corral is too small or lacks enrichment.

Free-Range

• Pros: Slimes have more space to roam, which can make them happier. You don't need to build as many corrals.
• Cons: Much harder to control feeding and plort collection. They can wander into dangerous areas or interact with other slimes, leading to Tarr.

Troubleshooting

Ran into a snag? Don't worry, it happens to everyone.

• Help! My slimes have access to food, and yet when I travel, they don't eat at all! This can happen if you travel too far or for too long. Slimes have a hunger cycle, and if you're gone when they're supposed to eat, they might miss their window. Make sure you're checking on them regularly, especially after long trips.
• I travel too much to care for my slimes! What should I do? If you're spending a lot of time exploring, you need to set up a system that requires less direct intervention. This means ensuring your corrals are well-stocked, have automated feeders, and maybe even consider slime gates to keep them contained. For free-range slimes, you'll need to ensure their environment is rich with food sources.
• When You Can't Care For Your Slimes... If you're finding it impossible to keep up, it might be time to re-evaluate your ranch setup. Maybe you have too many different types of slimes, or perhaps you're trying to manage too many at once. It's okay to scale back and focus on a few types until you get the hang of it.

Keep at it, rancher! You'll get the hang of this. Just remember to observe your slimes, keep their needs met, and always be prepared for the unexpected. Happy ranching!