Prehistoric Farm Guide: How to Hatch Dinosaurs, Upgrade Tools, and Hunt Nessie

Getting Started with the Prehistoric Farm Gameplay Loop

If you are just starting your journey in Prehistoric Farm by Project Mirvy, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the expedition mechanics. The game is designed as a simulation where you act as a paleontologist-farmer. To succeed, you must master the fundamental cycle of gathering resources, hatching creatures, and managing your farm’s economy.

The gameplay revolves around a specific loop: digging for fossils, processing them into eggs, and raising the resulting dinosaurs. If you deviate from this loop—for example, by spending all your money on vanity items instead of food or shovel upgrades—your progression will stall.

The Basic Progression Cycle

1. Equip your shovel: Your starter tool is essential. Head out to the fossil islands to find glowing dig sites.
2. Collect fossils: Digging at these sites provides the DNA required for hatching.
3. Visit Dr. Ivy: Locate Dr. Ivy to trade your collected fossils for dinosaur eggs.
4. Incubate: Place your egg in the incubator. Wait for the timer to finish to hatch your new dinosaur.
5. Feed and Grow: Monitor the hunger bar. Keeping your dinosaur fed is the only way to ensure it grows into a rideable creature.

Mastering Fossil Hunting and Shovel Progression

Your shovel is the most critical tool in your arsenal. Many beginners make the mistake of ignoring shovel upgrades, thinking that coins are better spent elsewhere. However, in Prehistoric Farm, your shovel quality directly dictates the quality of fossils you can extract.

Better shovels allow for faster digging and access to higher-tier fossil sites. If you feel like your progress has hit a wall, it is almost certainly because you are using an outdated shovel. Always check the requirements for the next shovel upgrade before spending your hard-earned coins on other items.

Tip

Don't Waste Your Coins: Early in the game, it is tempting to spend coins on non-essential items. Save your money for shovel upgrades and, importantly, dinosaur food. You need a consistent supply of food to keep your dinosaurs growing; if you run out, your dinosaurs will stop gaining size.

Dinosaur Care: Feeding and Growth Mechanics

Once you have successfully hatched a dinosaur, the game shifts from a digging simulator to a management sim. A common mistake among new players is assuming that hatching is the end of the process. In reality, hatching is just the beginning.

Your dinosaur has a hunger bar that depletes over time. To make your dinosaur grow from a newborn into a rideable creature, you must keep this hunger bar above the 50% mark. If you let it drop too low, your dinosaur’s growth will effectively pause.

Warning

The Hunger Trap: If you hatch multiple dinosaurs at once without having a sufficient stock of food, you will struggle to keep them all fed. Always ensure you have a surplus of meat and vegetables from the shop before you commit to hatching several eggs simultaneously.

Fishing for Extra Income

When you are waiting for an egg to hatch or need a break from digging, fishing is your best secondary source of income. You can purchase a basic fishing rod for 150 coins. Remember that you also need to purchase bait to actually catch anything.

The fishing system is a mini-game where you must maneuver your cursor toward the high-value fish while avoiding the less desirable ones. The more valuable the fish you catch, the more money you make. This is a great way to "grind" while your dinosaurs are in the incubator or while you are waiting for dig sites to respawn.

Essential Early-Game Items

Basic Fishing Rod Essential for passive income. Cost: 150 coins. Requires bait to function.

Dinosaur Food Available in the shop. Keep a stock of meat and vegetables to prevent your dinosaurs from starving.

Upgraded Shovels The most important investment for progression. Check the requirements chart in-game to see which one you should aim for next.

Exploring the World and Hunting for Nessie

As your dinosaurs grow, you gain the ability to ride them, which opens up new islands and areas of the map. The game is designed with an "expedition" theme, meaning exploration is encouraged. You can use boats to travel between islands, and later on, you can acquire larger, faster boats to reach distant areas more efficiently.

Regarding the "Nessie" theme often seen in the community, players should keep an eye on active codes. The game developers frequently release updates—like the recent ones referenced in community discussions—that include special rewards. Using codes like GOGRINDNESSIE is a great way to get a head start with Nessie-related fragments or free coins that can be used to upgrade your gear quickly.

Active Codes for Prehistoric Farm

Redeeming codes is a standard way to get freebies in Roblox games, and Prehistoric Farm is no exception. These codes can provide coins, luck boosts, and sometimes even eggs.

Tip

How to Redeem Codes:

1. Launch the game.
2. Open the "Codes" section in the main menu.
3. Enter the code exactly as shown (they are often case-sensitive).
4. Click "Redeem" to claim your rewards.

Note: Code validity changes frequently. As of October 2026, the following codes have been reported as active by the community:

Always join the developer's group if the game requires it, as some codes will not work unless you are a member.

FAQ: Common Questions

Why isn't my dinosaur growing?

The most common reason is hunger. Check your dinosaur's hunger bar; if it is below 50%, it will stop growing. Keep it fed with meat or vegetables from the shop to maintain consistent growth.

Should I buy a better boat or a better shovel first?

Prioritize the shovel. Your shovel is directly tied to your fossil income and progression speed. A better boat is useful for exploration, but a better shovel is essential for economic growth.

Where do I find Dr. Ivy?

Dr. Ivy is the NPC responsible for dinosaur progression. You can find her near the main farming area where you trade your collected fossils for eggs.

Do I need to join a group for codes?

Yes, some codes in Prehistoric Farm require you to be a member of the game's official Roblox group to redeem them. Check the code menu in-game for any specific requirements.