QUESTION RE MEERKAT SHELTERS

[Littlelamb]

Can someone please tell me what type of shelters I can use for my Meerkats, i have tried a few and even dug them a tunnel home but the do not use them,

Thank you.

[audiolady]

Have you used the species filter to make sure it's the right type of shelter?
An idea just popped into my head-will animals use shelter more if there's an enrichment item in it?

[grampers62]

Shelter can be anything that is high enough for them to get under. This includes terrain rocks paths and building pieces. Just make it a bit higher than the average height of the species you are working with. Also the area or foot print of the shelter needs to be large enough to house all animals in the habitat. So you probably need an area the size of two roof tiles.
Note that the animals often do not use the shelters but it is a requirement for animal happiness/welfare and some animals need no shelter at all.

[audiolady]

singing "reaching out, reaching out for your love, Babe. In the shelter of my heart"
Now I'm also Music Girl, right grampers62?

[grampers62]

HA! Love it! XD

[audiolady]

Course, only diehard Duran Duran fans will get the song reference.
Cookie to the first person who knows it!

[Noki_49]

Also use your heat map / habitat to check for any nontransferable areas. That will let you know if the animals can use the shelter or the area it is on.

[Littlelamb]

Thank you for the help

[Starbucaneer]

Shelter..... I see what you did there lol white chocolate chip cookies if you have them please

I sometimes find the size of shelter needed spoils the habitat.... I try very hard to use the terrain to form and hide the shelter and cover it in various plants.

[grampers62]

There is a buffer around the walls which reduces the space inside. doubling the area can often increase the area by much more than double.

[grampers62]

Right each animal has a buffer of traversable area next to objects is what causes the space issues. you can kind of get the general effect using the heatmaps. intended to keep animals from clipping through objects.

[HeatherG]

This thread went completely off topic. Please remain on the topic of the thread. We appreciate it.
Thanks!

[audiolady]

It went back on topic 4 posts earlier. My meerkats never cared what I used for shelter, as long as it kept them dry. better?

[grampers62]

Sorry Heather but when one reads this they see the levity in our banter alongside the subject of the thread. Just a group of people that have become accustomed to interacting in the forums without things getting too serious or having abusive comments.