Tap Zoo Tips
Just starting with Tap Zoo? Here are the things you need to know. If you need an introduction to Tap Zoo take a look at the walkthrough from Gamezebo. Here is some helpful advice on cross-breeding, warnings on Tap Zoo gotchas, how to get friends for your zoo, and latest information on Tap Zoo levels.
ALERT!! Don't upgrade to the 13May update! Apple has forced Pocket Gems to remove the stars/coins to download option.
Cross-Breeding
Want to avoid paying for stars to cross-breed Tap Zoo animals? Check out the Tap Zoo Cross-Breeding combinations page. Here is the page for Arctic Zoo Cross-Breeding.
Warnings
#1 Don't let your animals in your nursery nest sit too long once hatched. They will get sick and you'll get charged snowflakes to buy medicine (two snowflakes for the chick). If you let the animial die you'll presumably lose the coins - at least that's implied. NOT COOL!
#2a If you've inadvertently purchased animals/staff because there is no safe place to scroll (swipe/tap sensitivity issues) - then reply to this post - have your voice heard.
#2b No second chances with purchases of animals and staff. While buying infrastructure, decorations, cross-breeding, and nursery give you a chance to back out of your purchase (either confirmation screen or cancel placement by not double-tapping), animals and staff don't. Seems to me like a tricky way (or clunky programming) to get your coins and stars.
Note from David @ Pocket Gems suggested I add the following (05Jan11):
If you accidentally purchase something for stars, just go to the menu and load your game. It will put you back to where you were when you launched the game - purchase undone.
07Jan11 Update: Pocket Gems says they hope in the 1.7 release (too late for 1.6) [removed text related to my complaint to Sequoia Capital who provided $5 million in venture capital to Pocket Gems]
#3 I've read (but can't find) that selling an item means all of that item go away. So if you have two of something and want to keep only one you are out of luck.
#4 Many stories of inadvertent purchases of coins/stars on the forums presumably by unsupervised children. The recommended solution is to set the device setting to disable purchases. But of course that means all your other iPhone/iPad apps are disabled as well. I suggest a parental PIN code for the Tap Zoo app itself. A few minutes of developer time is cheap compared to the time/expense for customer support to reverse such transactions (plus the hassle for the customer) repeated time after time. All we see posted are the ones who bother to complain - tip of the iceberg I imagine.
Neighbors & Friends
A few of the animals, infrastructure, and decorations can only be unlocked if you have Tap Zoo friends on Facebook. How do you get those Facebook friends who become your Tap Zoo neighbors? Add me as a friend!
Many of those on Facebook who play Tap Zoo seem to have a special identity for Tap Zoo. There are over a thousand people on Facebook (see friend list of Ember Tap Zoo) playing. If you don't want so many people seeing your real profile (identity), then do what others are doing.Step 1 - Find EmberTapZoo on Facebook who is the Tap Zoo advocate. Once friended, you will have access to over a thousand others like you. Step 2 - Just pick a few .... I like user "Trap Zoo".Step 3 - Go to Tap Zoo and logon to Facebook to see your new friend list.Levels
For those who keep track, Tap Zoo user Mega Blackdog is up to level 40 as of December 2010. Get Mega Blackdog to "friend" you so you can see in advance all the animals and decorations that exist. Ember TapZoo is close behind reaching level 40 first week of January.
Tap Zoo Ted reached level 50 in the first few days of April following this accomplishment in March by Arabo Esaudito.
Tap Zoo Trivia
Wow! Tap Zoo is a popular name. Did you know there are over 50 Facebook users named "Tap Zoo"? If you count those with "Tap" and "Zoo" in their names you have over 80. An additional 75+ have "TapZoo" in their name. Protect your Facebook profile and maintain some privacy - that's a good thing. Facebook has 550+ million users - well odds on they aren't all unique people. I am the original Trap Zoo on Facebook. There are now two other users named Trap Zoo and also Tap Zoo Trap, and Zoo Trapped. A catchy name!
Tap Zoo Fun
Check out some fun tips with Tap Zoo including names, traps, and mazes.
Remember to finish "Decorate Everything" achievement quickly so you can move on to "The Janitor". It will take a long time to pick up 10,000 pieces of trash.
Tap Zoo Achievements
Once you've got some achievements and complete them - then the achievements that come after that achievement could already be completed. The trash achievements could be a little easy if you don't pick up trash. Well you could pick up trash if you are in the very very beginning because you have to unlock the janitor. But the other trash achievements are a little bit more easy than The Janitor. Here are the other trash achievements. There is Trashy, Spring Cleaning, and Litter Bug for trash achievements.