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# Changing an animal's species

To fix an animal saved under the wrong species, open its profile and choose **Change species** from the arrow menu. Pick the right species, check what changes, and confirm. The breed resets, so set it again afterward.

## Before you start

- Only an owner or co-owner can change the species. For a farm's animal, the farm's owners and co-owners can.
- The new species must be in the same animal class. A sheep can become a goat, but not a chicken.
- Reference profiles can't change species. If you're still claiming the animal, finish the claim first.

## Change the species

1. Open the animal's profile.
2. Select the arrow button at the end of the row with **Add record** and **Edit profile**. Its name is **More animal actions**.
3. Choose **Change species**. You can also open **Edit profile** and select **Change species** under Species.
4. Under **New species**, pick the right one, then select **Continue**.

![Change species for Clover, currently Sheep, with Goat chosen as the new species and Continue](https://cdn-test.creatures.com/f18/396/4bf/ceb65.png?width=780)

You can type a breed too: Nigerian Dwarf shows **Goat · Nigerian Dwarf** under **Breeds**, and picking it chooses Goat. You set the breed after the change. Misspelled a name? Pick a close match under **Did you mean:**. Suggestions stay within the same animal class.

Creatures may suggest a species under **Matches your color or cross or line name**. Choose it only if it's right for your animal.

5. Check the summary before you confirm:
   - The old and new species, such as Sheep to Goat.
   - The breed resets to none.
   - The color and any cross or line name are kept.
   - Group, location and species-based Care plans follow the new species automatically.
6. Select the button that names the new species, such as **Change to Goat**. To pick again, select **Back**.

![Review before changing Clover from Sheep to Goat, with breed reset, color kept, Back and Change to Goat](https://cdn-test.creatures.com/a48/874/6da/3fd10.png?width=780)

## After the change

The profile shows **Species changed.** with a link to set the breed. Select it to choose the right breed in **Edit profile**.

If the animal had a published stud offer, Creatures pauses it. Check the offer, then select **Resume** in its **Stud services** panel.

Saved an animal under a general choice, such as **Snake (species not known)**? The profile shows a **Set species** button. Select it to pick the exact species the same way.

## If Creatures asks you to resolve something first

Some records depend on the species. If the animal has any, Creatures lists them under **Resolve these before changing this animal's species**. Common ones are:

- Parents or offspring recorded
- A group or breeding pen
- An active breeding
- An open listing or a sale that isn't final
- Show entries, registry records or a Care plan
- An open stud service request, for the male or for a female named in it

![Change species for Magnus of Glen Lyon listing the records to resolve first, with Message us](https://cdn-test.creatures.com/3f7/159/1df/dfd7c.png?width=1112)

You can clear some of these yourself, such as ending a listing. If you can't, or you want to keep the record, select **Message us**. This opens a conversation with the Creatures team, and we'll help fix it.

Need a species that isn't on Creatures yet? See [My species or breed isn't listed](https://help.creatures.com/en/article/my-species-or-breed-isnt-listed-v51qa0/).

### Related information

- [My species or breed isn't listed](https://help.creatures.com/en/article/my-species-or-breed-isnt-listed-v51qa0/)
- [Adding an animal to Creatures](https://help.creatures.com/en/article/adding-an-animal-to-creatures-jbkkre/)
- [Your animal's profile page](https://help.creatures.com/en/article/your-animals-profile-page-the-tabs-and-what-each-one-does-nsi15b/)