Surviving The Aftermath: Aquafarms vs Ranches | Which Is Better?

Surviving the Aftermath allows you to build aquafarms and ranches, both of which will provide food for your colony.

But if they both just produce food, which one does it better? Or are there other differences below the surface that we should know about?

In this guide, we’ll go over the differences between these two facilities and help you decide which one to build!

Aquafarms vs Ranches

The truth of the matter is that both buildings have pretty different functions once you get past the surface-level similarities. They both produce food, sure, but there are important differences to keep in mind!

If you are simply seeking to have more food without caring which type, then aquafarms are great. They will get you fish constantly, even during the winter, and at a much higher rate than ranches provide food.

The problem is that you will be getting just fish. Your colonists have varying needs and wants, so not everyone is going to be happy with eating fish for every meal!

On the other hand, ranches produce food much slower and will require you to trade with other colonies to get livestock. Ranches also consume water for production, which aquafarms don’t.

Raising and breeding animals takes some time, and trading for them can be costly too. It’s an upfront cost that you need to keep in mind.

This is offset by the fact that you will get more varied food types and byproducts like eggs, milk, and fiber. These resources are great for providing a more varied diet for your colonists, keeping them happy!

Another difference is that aquafarms require 2 workers, while ranches require just 1 worker. This makes aquafarms less than ideal if you have a small colony and can’t spare the workers for it.

Yet another thing to keep in mind is that aquafarms produce pollution, which can eventually lead to them shutting down after some time.

This makes them contrast with the ranches, which are better in the long run despite their upfront costs.

In Conclusion

When you factor everything in, aquafarms and ranches are almost opposites.

Aquafarms are worse in the long run due to their pollution issues but are faster to set up and have more consistent production, especially during winter. Their production is just fish, which is very limiting for your colony.

Ranches have hefty upfront costs and are much slower to produce food. However, they can withstand the test of time and produce animal byproducts alongside meat.

Ideally, you should aim to have both buildings. This will provide the most variety of food resources for your colony as well as guarantee food production remains constant throughout every season!

ALSO READ: Surviving the Aftermath: Beginner’s Guide