Animals
Complete guide to all 13 ranch animal species in Starsand Island with 55+ variants. Covers rabbits, chickens, ducks, pigs, cows, sheep, alpacas, deer, musk deer, horses, ostriches, queen bees, housing requirements, products, rarity tiers, rideable mounts, breeding, farm abilities, and animal care.
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Overview
Starsand Island features 13 purchasable livestock species with over 55 individual variants, making ranching one of the deepest systems in the game. Animals are unlocked progressively through five Rancher profession tiers: Apprentice, Junior, Intermediate, Senior, and Expert. All base animals are purchased from Pastelle at Green Pasture Ranch, located northwest of Hopeland (open 6 AM to 10 PM). Some common species can also be discovered in the wild by chopping trees and bushes.
Each animal requires its own housing type, with a maximum of 4 animals per enclosure. Animals produce specific goods when fed, cleaned, and kept happy. Rarer variants are obtained exclusively through breeding, and several species serve as rideable mounts for traversing the island.
Rarity System
Every animal variant falls into one of three rarity tiers. Rarity determines how the variant is obtained and, in many cases, whether it has enhanced abilities or special traits like glowing effects or mount capability.
Rarity | How to Obtain | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Common | Purchased from Pastelle or found in the wild | Base variant of each species. Available at the ranch once the corresponding Rancher tier is unlocked. |
Rare | Breeding only | Offspring from pairing common or other rare variants in the Breeding House. Color and variant outcome is randomized. |
Super Rare | Breeding only (lowest chance) | The rarest outcome from breeding. Super rare variants often glow, have unique colors, or unlock mount capability. |
Housing Requirements
Each species requires a specific housing structure. Housing must be built on your farm before purchasing the animal. Each enclosure holds up to 4 animals (except beehives, which hold bees based on hive slot capacity). The following table lists the housing type for every species.
Species | Housing |
|---|---|
Rabbit Hutch | |
Chicken Coop | |
Duck Coop | |
Pigsty | |
Cattle Barn | |
Sheep (all variants) | Sheep Barn |
Beehive | |
Stable | |
Deer (all variants) | Deer Barn |
Musk Deer Barn | |
Alpaca Barn | |
Ostrich Barn |
Apprentice Tier
Rabbit (75 Coins)
Rabbits are the first animal unlocked on the ranch. Their primary farm function is weeding: they clear weeds from nearby farmland, making them an excellent complement to crop fields. Place rabbit hutches close to your fields for maximum effect. Rabbits produce Wool, Rabbit Poop, and regular Poop.
Variant | Rarity | Origin | Weeding Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Rabbit (Common) | Common | Ranch, Wild, Breeding | 5 weeds/day | Brown and white coloring. Base variant. |
Rare | Breeding | 5 weeds/day | White and grey with floppy ears. | |
Rare | Wild, Bio Research Stamp, Breeding | 5 weeds/day | White variant. Can be found in the wild or obtained from Bio Research stamps. | |
Super Rare | Intermediate Rancher reward, Bio Research Stamp, Breeding | 15 weeds/day | Glowing white and pink. Clears weeds three times faster than standard rabbits. |
Products: Wool, Rabbit Poop, Poop
Housing: Rabbit Hutch (15 Softwood + 5 Fiber)
Junior Tier
Chicken (300 Coins)
Chickens provide pest control, clearing bugs from nearby crops each day. The Golden Chicken variant is especially valuable, tripling the standard bug-clearing rate to 15 per day. Chickens also produce Eggs, Feathers, and the occasional Giant Egg when happiness is high enough. Petting chickens daily is required for egg production.
Variant | Rarity | Origin | Pest Control | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicken (Common) | Common | Ranch, Wild, Breeding | 5 bugs/day | Brown coloring. Base variant. |
Rare | Wild, Breeding | 5 bugs/day | Black feathers. Can also be found in the wild. | |
Rare | Breeding | 5 bugs/day | White feathers. Bred from common pairs. | |
Super Rare | Breeding | 15 bugs/day | Gold feathers. Bred from Common + Ink or Common + Pearl combinations. |
Products: Egg, Giant Egg (high happiness), Feather, Chicken Claw, Poop
Housing: Chicken Coop
Duck (300 Coins)
Ducks specialize in snail control, making them particularly useful near rice paddy fields. Each duck clears up to 5 snails per day from nearby crops. Like chickens, ducks require daily petting to produce eggs.
Variant | Rarity | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Duck (Common) | Common | Ranch, Wild, Breeding | Yellow coloring. Base variant. |
Rare | Breeding | All-white plumage. | |
Rare | Breeding | Natural green feathers. | |
Super Rare | Breeding | Feathers like glass with a glowing appearance. |
Products: Egg, Giant Egg (high happiness), Feather, Poop
Housing: Duck Coop
Intermediate Tier
Pig (650 Coins)
Pigs are valued for their ability to dig up Truffles, a high-value bounty item considered a delicacy. Adult pigs automatically search for truffles when placed in a pigsty near truffle-producing ground. Their droppings also serve as farm fertilizer.
Variant | Rarity | Origin | Rideable | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pig (Common) | Common | Ranch, Breeding | No | Pink coloring. Digs truffles when fully grown. |
Rare | Breeding | No | Spotted pattern. | |
Rare | Breeding | No | Resembles a wild boar with prominent tusks. | |
Super Rare | Breeding | Yes | Blue and green coloring. The only rideable pig variant. |
Products: Truffle, Fur, Unknown Mud Pile, Poop
Housing: Pigsty
Cow (650 Coins)
Cows are a staple livestock species that produce Milk, Fur, and other byproducts. They do not have a dedicated farm ability like weeding or pest control, but their product output is diverse and valuable for cooking and processing.
Variant | Rarity | Origin | Rideable | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cow (Common) | Common | Ranch, Breeding | No | Black and white pattern. Produces milk when fully grown. |
Rare | Breeding | No | Long, flowing hair covering its body. | |
Rare | Breeding | No | Majestic horns and larger build. | |
Super Rare | Breeding | Yes | Blue glowing variant. Can walk on water. The only rideable cow. |
Products: Milk, Fur, Moo Ball, Sleep Sand, Poop
Housing: Cattle Barn
Sheep (650 Coins)
Sheep have the most extensive variant pool in the game with 12 distinct breeds. Two base sheep, Snowool (white) and Ebowool (black), are purchasable from the ranch. All other variants are obtained through breeding. Sheep produce Wool, Sheep Milk, Sheep Cheese Block, and Sheep Saliva. Colored sheep produce wool matching their fleece color, which is essential for the dye system and crafting colored fabrics. Seven wool colors exist: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Cyan, Blue, and Purple (plus White and Black from base breeds).
Breeding Snowool with Ebowool is the standard starting point. This pairing can produce Fluffwool, Duswool, and various colored offspring. The color outcome during breeding is randomized, so expect multiple attempts to obtain a specific color.
Variant | Rarity | Origin | Wool Color | Rideable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Common | Ranch, Breeding | White | Yes | |
Common | Ranch, Breeding | Black | Yes | |
Rare | Breeding | Black | Yes | |
Rare | Breeding | White | Yes | |
Red Sheep | Rare | Breeding | Red | Yes |
Rare | Breeding | Orange | Yes | |
Yellow Sheep | Rare | Breeding | Yellow | Yes |
Green Sheep | Rare | Breeding | Green | Yes |
Cyan Sheep | Rare | Breeding | Cyan | Yes |
Blue Sheep | Rare | Breeding | Blue | Yes |
Purple Sheep | Rare | Breeding | Purple | Yes |
Cloud Sheep | Super Rare | Breeding | Special | Yes |
Products: Wool (color matches variant), Sheep Milk, Sheep Cheese Block, Sheep Saliva, Poop
Housing: Sheep Barn
Queen Bee (400 Coins)
The Queen Bee is unique among ranch animals because it has no variant subspecies and cannot be bred in the traditional sense. Instead, a Queen Bee produces Bumblebee workers when fed Royal Jelly. Bees provide two valuable farm functions: honey collecting (automatic, 7 AM to 7 PM) and crop pollination, which acts as natural fertilizer for nearby fields. A Queen Bee occupies 7 hive slots, limiting how many other bees can share the same beehive.
Queen Bees can also be found at Giant Beehives in the wild, though the ranch purchase is the most reliable way to obtain one.
Products: Honey
Housing: Beehive (6 Hardwood Planks + 6 Honeycomb + 3 Iron Sheets)
Senior Tier
Horse (1,350 Coins)
Horses are the only livestock species that supports duo riding, allowing two players to ride the same mount. This makes them especially useful for multiplayer travel. All four horse variants are rideable.
Variant | Rarity | Origin | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Horse (Common) | Common | Ranch, Breeding | A gentle animal with long legs, skilled at running. |
Rare | Breeding | Entirely snow-white. Symbolizes purity and nobility. | |
Rare | Breeding | Jet black and agile. | |
Super Rare | Breeding | Looks like it ran out of an ink wash painting. Magical appearance. |
Products: Fur, Horse Dew, Poop
Housing: Stable
Rideable: Yes (all variants, duo riding)
Deer (1,350 Coins)
Deer are rideable mounts with five variants, including the special Luna Deer obtained from the Moonlit Forest rather than through breeding. All deer variants can be ridden.
Variant | Rarity | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Common | Ranch, Breeding | Base deer variant with spotted coat. | |
Rare | Breeding | Pure white coat. | |
Lucky Deer | Rare | Breeding | A fortunate variant believed to bring good luck. |
Special | Moonlit Forest (wild) | A gentle deer native to the Moonlit Forest. Cannot be bred; riding only. | |
Super Rare | Breeding | The rarest deer variant, obtained through breeding. |
Products: Deer Antler (a rare and valuable medicinal herb), Poop
Housing: Deer Barn
Rideable: Yes (all variants, single rider)
Musk Deer (1,350 Coins)
Musk Deer resemble deer but are actually closer to Bovidae (the family containing antelopes, cows, and goats). Male musk deer secrete precious Musk, a fragrant substance valued as a traditional medicine ingredient. Unlike regular deer, musk deer are not rideable mounts. For a detailed breakdown of all four variants, breeding strategies, and musk production mechanics, see the dedicated Musk Deer article.
Variant | Rarity | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Musk Deer (Common) | Common | Ranch, Breeding | Solitary by nature, inhabits mountainous areas. |
Red Musk Deer | Rare | Breeding | Extremely rare reddish-brown fur. |
Black Musk Deer | Rare | Breeding | Entire body is dark brown, almost black. |
Fairy Musk Deer | Super Rare | Breeding | Emits a faint glow across its entire body. Known as the legendary spirit musk deer. |
Products: Musk (males only), Musk Cocoon, Poop
Housing: Musk Deer Barn
Rideable: No
Expert Tier
Alpaca (2,750 Coins)
Alpacas are the most expensive livestock alongside ostriches. Despite looking like sheep, they are actually relatives of camels. All four variants are rideable and produce valuable Alpaca Wool and Alpaca Spit.
Variant | Rarity | Origin | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Alpaca (Common) | Common | Ranch, Breeding | Looks like a sheep, but is a relative of camels. |
Rare | Breeding | Unruly hairstyle reflecting a rebellious attitude. | |
Rare | Breeding | Noble fur that exudes a regal aura. | |
Super Rare | Breeding | Pure white fluffy fur, soft as cotton candy. Resembles an animal from a fairy tale. |
Products: Alpaca Wool, Alpaca Spit, Poop
Housing: Alpaca Barn
Rideable: Yes (all variants, single rider)
Ostrich (2,750 Coins)
Ostriches are fast, rideable mounts that also produce Ostrich Eggs. While they cannot fly, they dash across land with impressive speed.
Variant | Rarity | Origin | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
Ostrich (Common) | Common | Ranch, Breeding | Cannot soar through the skies, but dashes across land like the wind. |
Rare | Breeding | White-feathered variant. | |
Rare | Breeding | Gold-feathered variant. | |
Super Rare | Breeding | The rarest ostrich variant with a fiery appearance. |
Products: Ostrich Egg, Poop
Housing: Ostrich Barn
Rideable: Yes (all variants, single rider)
Rideable Mounts
Not all livestock can be ridden. The following table summarizes every species and variant that serves as a mount. Mounts are primarily unlocked at Senior and Expert Rancher tiers, though certain Super Rare variants of earlier-tier species also unlock riding.
Species | Rideable Variants | Rider Capacity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
All 4 variants | 2 (Duo Riding) | Only species supporting two-person riding. Ideal for multiplayer travel. | |
All 5 variants | 1 | Luna Deer is found wild in Moonlit Forest, not bred. | |
All 4 variants | 1 | Expert tier. Produces wool while serving as a mount. | |
All 4 variants | 1 | Expert tier. Fast ground movement. | |
All 12 variants | 1 | All sheep variants are rideable. | |
Pyrox only | 1 | Super Rare variant. Can walk on water. | |
Puffhog only | 1 | Super Rare variant. |
Farm Abilities
Several species provide passive farming benefits when their housing is placed near crop fields. These abilities save time on manual farm maintenance and can significantly improve crop health.
Species | Ability | Effect | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
Weeding | Clears weeds from nearby farmland | 5/day (Luna: 15/day) | |
Pest Control | Removes bugs from nearby crops | 5/day (Golden: 15/day) | |
Snail Control | Eats snails from crops, especially near rice paddy fields | 5/day | |
Truffle Foraging | Adult pigs dig up Truffles from the ground | Automatic | |
Pollination | Acts as natural fertilizer for nearby crop fields | Passive (7 AM to 7 PM) | |
Honey Collecting | Automatically produces Honey | Automatic (7 AM to 7 PM) |
All Animal Products
The following table lists every product that can be obtained from ranch animals, along with which species produces it and how it is typically used.
Product | Source Species | Use |
|---|---|---|
Rabbit, Sheep | Crafting, Processing. Colored wool from sheep feeds the dye system. | |
Alpaca Wool | Alpaca | Processing. Soft, lightweight with a silky sheen. |
Alpaca Spit | Alpaca | Processing. |
Chicken, Duck | Cooking, Processing. Requires daily petting. | |
Chicken, Duck | Bounty Item. Produced at high happiness (150+). Twice the size of regular eggs. | |
Ostrich Egg | Ostrich | Processing. Often bought for making crafts. |
Chicken, Duck | ||
Chicken Claw | Chicken | Bounty Item. |
Cow | Processing, Cooking. Rich in nutrients. | |
Sheep | Processing. Distinctive flavor, easily absorbed. | |
Sheep Cheese Block | Sheep | Processing. Fermented dairy with a salty-sweet flavor. |
Sheep Saliva | Sheep | Processing. |
Fur | Cow, Pig, Horse | Processing. Sells for 55 Coins. |
Pig | Bounty Item. High-value delicacy dug up by adult pigs. | |
Unknown Mud Pile | Pig | Clearable obstacle from inventory. |
Musk Deer (males) | Bounty Item. Fragrant substance, traditional medicine ingredient. | |
Musk Cocoon | Processing. Egg-shaped cocoons wrapped in musk hair. | |
Moo Ball | Cow | Processing. Undigested grass regurgitated by cattle. |
Sleep Sand | Cow | Bounty Item. A small pile of fine sand. |
Horse Dew | Horse | Processing. |
Deer Antler | Deer | Processing. Rare and valuable medicinal herb. |
Processing, Cooking. Natural sweet substance from nectar. | ||
Rabbit Poop | Rabbit | Processing. Round pellets. |
Poop | All species | Processing. Used as fertilizer. |
Animal Care
All livestock need daily attention to produce high-quality goods. Neglecting any of these tasks reduces happiness, which lowers product quality and can halt production entirely.
Task | Details |
|---|---|
Feeding | Each species has its own feed type (Rabbit Feed, Chicken Feed, etc.), purchased from Green Pasture Ranch. Pastelle provides 2 free bags daily. |
Cleaning | Use a Brush (craft: 2 Softwood + 2 Wool, blueprint 150 Coins) or a Cleaning Pod. Dirty animals receive the "Messy" status, which reduces happiness. |
Petting | Required for chickens and ducks to produce eggs. Increases happiness for all species. |
Happiness | Maintained through timely feeding, petting, and cleaning. At 150+ happiness, animals produce premium-quality byproducts that sell for higher prices. |
Regular Wool sells for 20 Coins, while Fur from larger animals sells for 55 Coins. Premium versions of these products (produced by animals with 150+ happiness) sell for even more. Use an Electric Shearer (blueprint costs 800 Coins, unlocked at Intermediate Rancher) to harvest wool from adult sheep on demand.
Breeding
Breeding is the primary method for obtaining Rare and Super Rare animal variants. For a complete guide to breeding mechanics, DNA traits, and mutation strategies, see the dedicated Breeding and Genetics article.
Breeding requires a male and female of the same species in the same enclosure with at least one empty slot. Animals must be fed, clean, and happy. Breeding occurs overnight, once per day per enclosure. The outcome (variant and DNA traits) is randomized.
The Breeding House (3,500 Coins, unlocked at Intermediate Rancher) lets you isolate specific pairs for controlled mutations. This is essential for targeting rare and super rare variants.
DNA Traits
Offspring can inherit positive or negative DNA traits that affect their behavior, growth, and productivity.
Positive Traits
Trait | Effect |
|---|---|
Workaholic | Works more times daily. |
Twins | 30% chance of producing extra offspring. |
Precocial | Growth time reduced by one day. |
Bulkiness | Animal grows to a larger size. |
Strong | Breeding cooldown reduced by one day. |
Optimism | Happiness boost chance doubled. |
Negative Traits
Trait | Effect |
|---|---|
Pride | Cannot be petted. |
Petiteness | Stays permanently tiny. |
Bloom | Decreases happiness boost by 1 point. |
Rancher Profession Progression
Animals are unlocked through the Rancher profession tier system. Each tier requires completing a quest before the next set of animals becomes available at the ranch.
Tier | Animals Unlocked | Quest Requirement | Notable Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|
Apprentice | Rabbit | Rabbit Hutch blueprint | |
Junior | Chicken, Duck | Collect Giant Eggs from chickens at 150+ happiness | Chicken Coop, Duck Coop |
Intermediate | Varies | Breeding House blueprint, Electric Shearer blueprint | |
Senior | Horse, Deer, Musk Deer | Varies | Mount animals |
Expert | Alpaca, Ostrich | Varies | Most expensive animals (2,750 Coins each) |
Complete Variant Count
The following table shows the total number of variants for each species, sorted by tier unlock order.
Species | Common | Rare | Super Rare | Special | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rabbit | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Chicken | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Duck | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Pig | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Cow | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
2 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 12 | |
1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
Horse | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Deer | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | |
Alpaca | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Ostrich | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Total | 13 | 29 | 11 | 1 | 54 |
Meat
Animals are not butchered in Starsand Island. Meat products such as Pork, Mutton, Fowl, and Beef are purchased from Zerine's General Store in Starsand Town rather than obtained from ranch animals.
Tips and Strategies
Place Rabbit Hutches, Chicken Coops, and Duck Coops adjacent to crop fields to maximize the benefit of their weeding, pest control, and snail control abilities.
Position beehives near crop fields to take advantage of the Queen Bee's pollination, which acts as natural fertilizer.
Prioritize reaching 150+ happiness on all animals. Premium products sell for significantly more than standard ones.
When breeding for colored sheep, start by pairing Snowool with Ebowool. The color outcome is random, so be prepared for many attempts before obtaining specific colors like Purple or Red.
The Puffhog (Super Rare pig) and Pyrox (Super Rare cow) are the only rideable variants of their species, making them highly prized breeding targets.
The Luna Deer from the Moonlit Forest is the only wild-caught mount. It cannot be bred but is immediately rideable.
Horses are the only mount that supports two riders, making them the best choice for cooperative multiplayer exploration.
Feed and clean animals daily. Pastelle provides 2 free bags of feed each day, but you will need to purchase additional feed as your ranch grows.
The Breeding House (3,500 Coins at Intermediate Rancher) is essential for targeting specific variant outcomes. Without it, breeding is limited to same-enclosure pairings.
Use the Electric Shearer (800 Coins, Intermediate Rancher) to harvest wool from sheep on demand rather than waiting for passive drops.