Temperature is an important weather mechanic. It affects all other weather and influences slimes' behavior, and can have both positive and negative effects. For purposes of this article, temperature will be stated in Fahrenheight degrees, and it will be listed from hot to cold. Slimes have a body temperature, and they can hurt a slime if they go too high or too low.
Body Temperature[]
Here is a chart of all the effects, going from hot to cold:
| Temperature | Hot Slime Temperature | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| 106-108 | 117-119 |
|
| 103-105 | 115-117 |
|
| 100-102 | 113-115 |
|
| 97-99 | 111-113 |
|
| 96-94 | 110-108 |
|
| 93-91 | 107-105 |
|
| 90-87 | 104-103 |
|
For this reason, temperature can get quite dangerous if taken to extremes. But how does it increase and decrease in a slime? Well, there are factors that contribute to temperature change in the environment, and temperature change in slimes. Without any increases or decreases at all, a slime will stay at a constant temperature of 98 (normal) or 112 (hot).
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Frozen | 1 degree down per hour |
| Frost Disease | 2 degrees down per hour |
| Glacier Effect | Instant frostbite within 15 seconds of exposure. |
| Blizzard | 1 degree down per hour |
| Heat Wave | 1 degree up per hour |
| Expending Energy | Slows down temperature decrease by 25% |
| In Hole | Stops all temperature changes |
| Always Hot | Halves the rate of temperature changes |
| Producing Crystal | 1 degree down immediately |
| In Water | Halves the rate of temperature increase |
| In Cold Water | 2 degrees down per hour |
| Wind Chill | 1 degree down per hour |
| Hot Spring | Stops all temperature decrease |
| Huddling | Halves the rate of temperature decrease |
What temperature becomes a heat wave/blizzard is subjective, hot slimes are better adjusted to temperature extremes than usual, and so they experience changes slower. But if a hot slime does become in danger of heat wave, then they skip the fever stage and go straight to a high fever.
How Does Temperature Work?[]
Temperature, while it's randomly generated, generally follows a few rules. It isn't about one place under a tree, but entire areas. For example, being inside a corral with solar shield doesn't count, but being in the grotto does count. While temperature is usually universal for most places, there are a few exceptions. The one exception is that defying time, the ancient ruins area doesn't have seasons and stays at a constant average temperature all year round, and temperature-related disasters only affect this area if it affects the rest of the range, not counting the glass desert. So, here are the regional temperatures at an absolute average.
| Place | Average | Summer | Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Reef | 75 | 85 | 40 |
| Moss Blanket | 75 | 80 | 60 |
| Indigo Quarry | 70 | 75 | 25 |
| Volcanic Area | 85 | 90 | 80 |
| Caves | 75 | 77 | 73 |
| Glass Desert | 90 | 95 | 85 |
| Ancient Ruins | 75 | 75 | 75 |
| Other/Slime Sea | 75 | 85 | 65 |
| Far Far Range Ridge | -15 | -6 | -25 |
The weather can influence temperatures as well.
| Weather | Effect |
|---|---|
| Cloudy | -5 degrees |
| Drizzling | -5 degrees |
| Raining | -10 degrees |
| Heavily Raining | -15 degrees |
| Flurry | -5 degrees |
| Snowing | -10 degrees |
| Heavily Snowing | -15 degrees |
| Medium Wind | -5 degrees |
| Heavy Wind | -10 degrees |
| Night | -10 degrees |
| Glass Desert Night | -20 degrees |
| Midday (10AM-2PM) | +5 degrees |
| Glitter Glacier Night | -35 degrees |
Note that the weather (except time of day) does not affect the temperature in caves, only outside temperature. All of the factors are combined to make an average, plus the weather. The result is that while caves have a more stable temperature, the volcanic cave and glass desert caves are hotter than other caves, for example.
Hot Temperatures[]
Heat Wave (110 F and above)[]
There's summer, there are the occasional dog days, and then there are these -days so hot that you could fry an egg on the ground. This is an abnormal temperature range, and it's considered a natural disaster -and it's unique in that this disaster never happens alone, because it causes drought -a major source of deaths from starvation and thirst, and a notorious cause of feral canyons. In addition to experiencing resource shortages and dried up ponds from drought, slimes will now experience the dangers of heatstroke and doubled water loss. While in hot weather, slimes take it easy, during heat waves, they take this to the extreme. They do not leave their slime holes unless they need to eat or find water. This behavior is lifesaving, because the Heat Wave debuff which doubles water loss is negated by the In Hole buff, which decreases water loss by 75%, which means that altogether, water loss is decreased by 25%. This also means that the body temperature remains stable. Heat waves are almost always contained to the glass desert and sometimes the volcanic areas, and at least one per year happens in the glass desert if not the volcanic areas. Heat waves that aren't contained to those areas are rare, and you may go an entire year without seeing one.
Very Hot (95-110 F)[]
This is when it's unusually hot, but not deadly -and days like this are quite common compared to the rare heat wave. Every year always has about six or eight of these days, but heat waves that aren't contained to naturally hot areas don't always happen in an entire year. Slimes will treat themselves with caution by taking the day off, they won't play boisterously or fight with each other, because water loss happens 25% faster. They like to go in the pool at these times. This kind of heat is not deadly on it's own, and you shouldn't worry about it. It is only deadly if it is in conjunction with illness, because thirst can still kill a slime if there are enough contributing factors in hot weather.
Hot (80-95)[]
This is normal summer weather. Slimes like to have fun in this weather just like we all do, and they often choose to play in the pool. However, it is easy for them to get uncomfortable if there are certain factors, leading to happiness hits and issues with plort production if you are not careful. Slimes get sunburn from 10 AM-3 PM. Slimes only do cool-down behaviors like producing crystals at this point and above.
Cold Temperatures[]
Cold (32-15 F)[]
This is when rain turns to snow, and non-geyser water freezes unless it is a hot spring or the pond has heaters. Sprinklers don't work, and they have to be repaired each year due to pipes freezing. There is something about snow that makes slimes cheerful -they like to play in the snow and slide on ice. Aquatic slimes move to hot springs for the winter, then return when the weather is warmer. The only danger that is presented is that thin ice can be hazardous if it breaks, because being in it causes a slime's temperature to rapidly decrease. If a slime gets in the water, they will try to get out immediately. While normal crops can't grow and chickens don't reproduce during this time, there are three winter foods that replace the normal foods: Mousies, Chillery, Glaciermelons, and Snowmato. They are favored by none and simply serve to provide food during the winter. Mousies need to be kept in check because they eat your crops in place of the grasses they usually graze on in the rest of the year, when they don't reproduce.
Snowstorm (15-0 F)[]
It is impossible for the temperature to go down enough to be dangerous unless there are enough weather factors to decrease the temperature: a storm. But when it does go down to that level, it becomes a hindrance to your ranching. Slimes will not leave their slime holes unless they need to eat or drink, and when they do, there is a high risk that they will be pummeled by the weather, unless they are in a sheltered location with a stable temperature, like a cave. Slimes with extremities, like tabbies, phosphors, and hunters, are at danger of frostbite. The indigo quarry has colder winters than the rest of the place, making it more at risk for storms. Unlike heat waves, these are common.
Blizzard (Below 0 F)[]
This is even worse than a heat wave. Slimes will be pummeled by the weather even more, and they can't use slime holes because the ground freezes, making it useless. So they have to find a cave or other sheltered place to go, and they have to huddle together while they could still encounter temperature decrease. A group of slimes would be lucky to find a hot spring in the cave. This always happens at least once per year in the indigo quarry, but it's rare for it to happen outside that area, and you may go a single year without seeing a blizzard.
Glacier Storm (-15 F)[]
In this weather, it is essentially impossible to save unprotected slimes. Luckily this is only possible in the Outpost Area.
Dealing With Disasters[]
Heat Waves[]
Make sure your slimes have access to food! You don't want to risk your slimes' lives by making them stand for long periods of time outside their slime hole because they are hungry, as this will surely cause heatstroke and dehydration! For that matter, make sure to manage starvation carefully, as if you have food during the resulting drought, you should be OK. Your aquatic slimes need to be checked on frequently, as water bodies will steadily drain to a certain low level and ponds and tanks may completely dry up!
Snowstorms and Blizzards[]
As with heat waves, make sure your slimes have access to food so they can stay in their slime holes. If a blizzard happens, make sure to have access to the grotto, and put a hot spring there. If you have corrals, then at least have MKII heating, as that will be a lifesaver. In addition, make sure your slimes aren't alone, as huddling together can be tremendously important to the survival of a blizzard.
Dealing With Summer Weather[]
Slimes can get uncomfortable with the heat if there are certain factors, leading to plort production issues and happiness decrease. Here is a chart:
| Problem | Effect | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Sunburn | -5 Happiness, no plorts for duration of the sunburn | Provide shade for your slimes. |
| Too Humid | -5 Happiness, not enough energy | Let your slimes have access to water, or install air conditioning. |
There are certain things you can do to help your slimes: in corrals, seasonal air conditioning and the geyser upgrade solve the humidity problem, and adding shade with either the umbrella or the solar shield prevents sunburn. In ponds, the umbrella is also useful. Outside of corrals, pools of water are a necessity, and owning the Grotto is the easiest way to prevent sunburn.
Dealing With Winter Weather[]
Comforting Your Slimes[]
Slimes can also be equally uncomfortable with the cold if there is bad weather.
| Problem | Effect | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Blizzard | -15 happiness for all unprotected slimes, danger of extreme frostbite. | Use at least MKII heating equipment. |
| Wind Chill | -5 Happiness, -10 for tabbies, phosphors and hunters, danger of the more serious frostbite during storms | Make sure you have heating or a sheltered area |
In corrals, you can add seasonal heating to negate this. Outside of corrals, having the grotto is very helpful, and important for slimes that are prone to frostbite.
Aquatic Slimes[]
If you don't have any means of heating the water, then your aquatic slimes will not be happy -they will just use the transport hole to go to a wild hot spring before their pond freezes. For you to be able to ranch these slimes during the winter, you need two ponds/water bodies -one that is a hot spring, and one that is not. If you do not use corrals, then your other slimes will also enjoy the hot springs and get a happiness boost.
Heated Slimes[]
Heated Slimes such as Fire Slimes, Hot Spring Slimes, and Boom Slimes will emit heat, they can unfreeze water and reduce agitation to cold slimes. But beware, cold resistant slimes become agitated when near heated slimes.
The Dreaded Mousy[]
Mousies, while normally harmless, are a pest in the winter because they only reproduce in the winter and because they eat crops. To stop Mousies, there are a few ways you can do this. All feline slimes love Mousies, and while they don't favorite it, they can detect them at a greater distance and are better at hunting them. In addition, Mousies can detect these slimes at a greater distance and are afraid of them. If you have corrals and crop-eating slimes, keep a tabby or hunter slime around and let them eat the Mousies or at least scare them away. This isn't a problem for free-range slimes that are carnivorous, but you otherwise still need pest repellents. While you can use the Scareslime, there is an upgrade called the Scaremousy, a fake tabby model that repels Mousies while not scaring the slimes.