Vermin

V · T · E Vermin
Insects & bugs	Acorn fly · Ant · Bark scorpion · Beetle · Blood gnat · Brown recluse spider · Bumblebee · Damselfly · Dragonfly · Firefly · Fly · Grasshopper · Honey bee · Jumping spider · Knuckle worm · Large roach · Louse · Mantis · Monarch butterfly · Mosquito · Moth · Phantom spider · Slug · Snail · Termite · Thrips · Tick · Worm
Subterranean	Bat · Cap hopper · Cave fish · Cave lobster · Cave spider · Cave swallow · Creepy crawler · Fire snake · Olm · Purring maggot
Birds	Blue jay · Bushtit · Cardinal · Cockatiel · Crow · Grackle · Lorikeet · Magpie · Masked lovebird · Oriole · Parakeet · Peach-faced lovebird · Red-winged blackbird · Sparrow · Wren
Mammals	Chipmunk · Demon rat · Flying squirrel · Fox squirrel · Gray squirrel · Hamster · Hedgehog · Lion tamarin · Rat · Red squirrel
Oceanic	Anchovy · Bat ray · Brook lamprey · Clownfish · Cuttlefish · Flounder · Glasseye · Hagfish · Hake · Herring · Mackerel · Moon snail · Mussel · Nautilus · Oyster · Salmon · Sea nettle jellyfish · Seahorse · Shad · Sole · Spotted ratfish · Squid · Steelhead trout · Thornback ray · White-spotted puffer
Rivers & lakes	Axolotl · Banded knifefish · Black bullhead · Brown bullhead · Char · Clown loach · Guppy · Leech · Lungfish · Perch · Rainbow trout · Sailfin molly · Yellow bullhead
Reptiles & amphibians	Anole · Chameleon · Green tree frog · Leopard gecko · Lizard · Moghopper · Pond turtle · Skink · Toad · Two-legged rhino lizard
Other	Fairy · Fluffy wambler · Pixie

v50.14 · v0.47.05

This article is about the current version of DF.
Note that some content may still need to be updated.

More Info · V

!!UNKNOWN!! · xTATTEREDx · +FINE+ · *SUPERIOR* · ≡EXCEPTIONAL≡ · ☼MASTERWORK☼

Vermin are small creatures such as rats, bats, and lizards which are difficult to see, and also the type of fish which are caught by fisherdwarves. They are below 2 kg (4 lb) in size, much smaller than cats. The presence of vermin can be noted if you are particularly observant, as they will occasionally blink into and out of view on the screen. The main distinctions between vermin and creatures are that vermin:

Cannot be engaged in combat or trigger traps, save those specifically made to trap them, though some (such as the cave spider) can bite and inflict syndromes;
Do not usually provide meat or bones. Exceptions are the creepy crawler, which can be butchered, and the purring maggot which can be milked;
Do not breed, but "spawn", spontaneously appearing in their natural environment or biome. Some types of vermin are inexhaustible and will always be able to spawn, regardless of how many are killed or captured;
Are sometimes "hateable", meaning dwarves can have an anti-preference, which gives them a negative thought when they see the hated vermin.

View the related category

Vermin can be problematic, as many types feed on stockpiles, thus making it more difficult to keep enough food and drink to survive. Some species can even cause food to rot faster when left outside of a barrel or large pot. Vermin can be hunted by cats and peregrine falcons to reduce this problem, though the remains will still need to be removed. Cats and falcons can be pastured at the relevant stockpiles to further reduce the problem.

Some vermin can be captured in animal traps, but those with the [VERMIN_NOTRAP] token can only be caught with a "Capture a Live Land Animal" job, while those with the [VERMIN_SOIL] token will be ignored for that job. Once caught, some can be trained as pets. A few particular captured vermin can be used to produce extracts using a glass vial and the animal dissector labor. Captured purring maggots can also be milked at a farmer's workshop. Vermin don't die of old age at all - if you capture one, it should last forever.

Graphically, the sprites of some flying insects, as well as pixies, will resemble multiple bugs of that type in a single tile; they can be seen in amounts of one, three, five and nine; depending on how large the swarm is. Dwarves will eat vermin if no other food source is available, resulting in an unhappy thought. Most vermin cannot be spawned in the object testing arena, as those are not able to engage in combat anyway.

Reading the Table

Graphic	Tile	Name	Playable	Hostile	Food Source	Adult Body Size	Pet Value (×)	Biome	Features

The above columns indicate, in order:

Graphic: The sprite assigned to the creature. Seen only in the Steam version.
Tile: The symbol assigned to the vermin, how you will see it without a graphic set.
Name: The name of the vermin as it shows up in-game.
Playable: Whether the vermin is playable in any of the game modes. As of now, no vermin are playable.
Hostile: Whether the vermin is hostile to the player. As of now, no vermin are hostile to dwarves.
Food Source: If "Yes" then the vermin can be turned into food when processed in a fishery.
Adult Body Size: The average size of the vermin when an adult. This can be anywhere from 1 for a fly to 2,000 for a fox squirrel. More or less equals the creature's weight in grams.
Pet Value: This is the value the vermin can be bought and sold for as a pet during trading.
Biome: Where the vermin can be found.
Features: Any special features the vermin possesses, these can include alignment and special properties. The value after 'Eater' indicates the vermin's container penetration value.

Vermin

Tile	Name	Playable	Hostile	Food Source	Adult Body Size	Pet Value (×)	Biome	Features
·	[[Acorn fly]]	No	N/A	No	20	0	Any pool	Savage, no trap
α	[[Anchovy]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Temperate oceans	No trap
∙	[[Anole]]	No	N/A	No	90	10	Any tropical forest
∙	[[Ant]]	No	N/A	No	1	0	Not freezing	No trap
∙	[[Axolotl]]	No	N/A	No	200	10	Tropical saltwater, brackish and freshwater lakes
α	[[Banded knifefish]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Tropical freshwater lakes and rivers	No trap
∙	[[Bark scorpion]]	No	N/A	No	3	0	Tropical grasslands, savannas, shrublands, coniferous forests and any desert	Hateable
∙	[[Bat]]	No	N/A	No	100	10	Not freezing, subterranean chasms	Hateable
ò	[[Bat ray]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Temperate and tropical oceans	No trap
·	[[Beetle]]	No	N/A	No	1	0	Not freezing	No trap, no capture
α	[[Black bullhead]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Temperate brackish and freshwater lakes	No trap
·	[[Blood gnat]]	No	N/A	No	1	0	Any pool	Hateable, no trap, evil, rots food
∙	[[Blue jay]]	No	N/A	No	100	30	Temperate grasslands, savannas, shrublands, broadleaf and coniferous forests
~	[[Brook lamprey]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Temperate saltwater, brackish and freshwater lakes, tropical oceans	No trap
α	[[Brown bullhead]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Temperate brackish and freshwater lakes	No trap
∙	[[Brown recluse spider]]	No	N/A	No	1	0	Temperate broadleaf forests	Hateable, produces web
·	[[Bumblebee]]	No	N/A	No	1	0	Not freezing	No trap
∙	[[Bushtit]]	No	N/A	No	5	30	Any temperate forest
∙	[[Cap hopper]]	No	N/A	No	200	10	Subterranean water
∙	[[Cardinal]]	No	N/A	No	50	30	Temperate grasslands, savannas, shrublands, broadleaf and coniferous forests
α	[[Cave fish]]	No	N/A	Yes	1000	0	Subterranean water	No trap
¥	[[Cave lobster]]	No	N/A	Yes	600	0	Subterranean water
∙	[[Cave spider]]	No	N/A	No	50	0	Subterranean water and chasm	Hateable, produces web
∙	[[Cave swallow]]	No	N/A	No	100	30	Subterranean chasm
∙	[[Chameleon]]	No	N/A	No	150	10	Any tropical forest, tropical shrublands and savannas, any desert
α	[[Char]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Temperate freshwater rivers and lakes	No trap
∙	[[Chipmunk]]	No	N/A	No	300	10	Any temperate forest
α	[[Clown loach]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Tropical freshwater rivers and lakes	No trap
α	[[Clownfish]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Tropical oceans	No trap
∙	[[Cockatiel]]	No	N/A	No	90	30	Any desert, temperate grasslands
*	[[Creepy crawler]]	No	N/A	Yes	1000	20	Underground chasm	Evil, rots food
∙	[[Crow]]	No	N/A	No	500	10	Temperate forests, grasslands, savannas, shrublands and wetlands, taiga
♂	[[Cuttlefish]]	No	N/A	Yes	1000	10	Any ocean
∙	[[Damselfly]]	No	N/A	No	1	0	Any pool	No trap
∙	[[Demon rat]]	No	N/A	No	300	20	Not freezing	Evil, eater 3
∙	[[Dragonfly]]	No	N/A	No	1	0	Any pool	No trap
∙	[[Fairy]]	No	N/A	No	100	10	All except pools, rivers, and underground	No trap, good, fanciful
∙	[[Fire snake]]	No	N/A	No	1000	10	Subterranean lava	Hateable
∙	[[Firefly]]	No	N/A	No	1	0	Not freezing	No trap
α	[[Flounder]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Temperate oceans	No trap
∙	[[Fluffy wambler]]	No	N/A	No	2000	20	Any land	Good, eater 1
·	[[Fly]]	No	N/A	No	1	0	Not freezing, any pool	Hateable, no trap
∙	[[Flying squirrel]]	No	N/A	No	200	10	Any temperate forest
∙	[[Fox squirrel]]	No	N/A	No	2000	100	Any temperate forest	Savage
α	[[Glasseye]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Tropical oceans	No trap
∙	[[Grackle]]	No	N/A	No	120	30	Temperate grasslands and savannas
·	[[Grasshopper]]	No	N/A	No	1	0	Not freezing	No trap
∙	[[Gray squirrel]]	No	N/A	No	300	10	Any temperate forest
∙	[[Green tree frog]]	No	N/A	No	100	10	Temperate freshwater lakes, pools, swamps and marshes
α	[[Guppy]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Tropical brackish, saltwater and freshwater lakes and rivers	No trap
~	[[Hagfish]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Arctic and temperate oceans	No trap
α	[[Hake]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Arctic and temperate oceans	No trap
∙	[[Hamster]]	No	N/A	No	150	10	Not freezing	Hateable, eater 2
∙	[[Hedgehog]]	No	N/A	No	800	10	Temperate shrublands and savannas
α	[[Herring]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Arctic and temperate oceans	No trap
·	[[Honey bee]]	No	N/A	No	1	1	Not freezing	Usable for beekeeping industry, no trap
·	[[Jumping spider]]	No	N/A	No	1	0	Not freezing	Hateable
~	[[Knuckle worm]]	No	N/A	No	1000	100	Not freezing	Evil
∙	[[Large roach]]	No	N/A	No	1	5	Not freezing	Hateable, eater 2, no trap
~	[[Leech]]	No	N/A	No	100	10	Any lake and pool	Hateable, no trap, no capture
∙	[[Leopard gecko]]	No	N/A	No	50	10	Any desert
∙	[[Lion tamarin]]	No	N/A	No	620	10	Tropical moist broadleaf forests
∙	[[Lizard]]	No	N/A	No	200	10	Not freezing	Hateable, eater 1
∙	[[Lorikeet]]	No	N/A	No	200	30	Tropical moist broadleaf forests, mangrove swamps
·	[[Louse]]	No	N/A	No	1	0	Not freezing	No trap, no capture
α	[[Lungfish]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Tropical brackish, saltwater and freshwater lakes, rivers and pools	No trap
α	[[Mackerel]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Arctic and temperate oceans	No trap
∙	[[Magpie]]	No	N/A	No	200	30	Temperate grasslands, savannas and shrublands
·	[[Mantis]]	No	N/A	No	1	0	Not freezing	No trap
∙	[[Masked lovebird]]	No	N/A	No	90	30	Any tropical forest
∙	[[Moghopper]]	No	N/A	No	300	20	Any pool	Savage, only usable creature for fish dissectors
∙	[[Monarch butterfly]]	No	N/A	No	1	0	Not freezing	No trap
∙	[[Moon snail]]	No	N/A	No	200	10	Temperate oceans	Hateable, no trap, no capture
·	[[Mosquito]]	No	N/A	No	1	0	Not freezing, any pool	Hateable, no trap
∙	[[Moth]]	No	N/A	No	1	0	Not freezing	No trap
m	[[Mussel]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	10	Any ocean, lake and river	Hateable, shell source
♂	[[Nautilus]]	No	N/A	Yes	500	10	Any ocean	shell source
∙	[[Olm]]	No	N/A	No	200	10	Subterranean water
∙	[[Oriole]]	No	N/A	No	40	30	Temperate broadleaf forests
o	[[Oyster]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	10	Any ocean	Hateable, shell source
∙	[[Parakeet]]	No	N/A	No	120	30	Tropical grasslands, savannas, shrublands and forests
∙	[[Peach-faced lovebird]]	No	N/A	No	60	30	Temperate grasslands, savannas, shrublands and broadleaf forests
α	[[Perch]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Temperate freshwater rivers and lakes	No trap
∙	[[Phantom spider]]	No	N/A	No	500	0	Temperate and tropical forests	Evil, produces web
·	[[Pixie]]	No	N/A	No	1	10	All except pools, rivers, and underground	No trap, good, fanciful
☼	[[Pond turtle]]	No	N/A	Yes	500	10	Any pool	shell source
{	[[Purring maggot]]	No	N/A	No	1000	10	Underground chasm	Hateable, produces milk
α	[[Rainbow trout]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Temperate freshwater rivers and lakes	No trap
∙	[[Rat]]	No	N/A	No	300	10	Not freezing	Hateable, eater 2
∙	[[Red squirrel]]	No	N/A	No	300	10	Any temperate forest
∙	[[Red-winged blackbird]]	No	N/A	No	50	30	Temperate salwater and freshwater marshes
α	[[Sailfin molly]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Temperate brackish, saltwater and freshwater lakes, rivers and pools	No trap
α	[[Salmon]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Temperate brackish, saltwater and freshwater lakes, temperate oceans	No trap
Ω	[[Sea nettle jellyfish]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	10	Temperate oceans	No trap
α	[[Seahorse]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Temperate and tropical oceans	No trap
α	[[Shad]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Temperate brackish, saltwater and freshwater lakes, temperate and arctic oceans	No trap
∙	[[Skink]]	No	N/A	No	500	10	Any desert, temperate and tropical
~	[[Slug]]	No	N/A	No	1	10	Not freezing	Hateable, no trap, no capture
∙	[[Snail]]	No	N/A	No	1	10	Not freezing	Hateable, no trap, no capture
α	[[Sole]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Temperate and arctic oceans	No trap
∙	[[Sparrow]]	No	N/A	No	30	30	Any grassland, savanna, shrubland, temperate and tropical forest, desert and wetland
α	[[Spotted ratfish]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Temperate oceans	No trap
♂	[[Squid]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	10	Any ocean
α	[[Steelhead trout]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Temperate brackish, saltwater and freshwater lakes, temperate and arctic oceans	No trap
·	[[Termite]]	No	N/A	No	1	0	Not freezing	No trap
ò	[[Thornback ray]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Temperate and tropical oceans	No trap
·	[[Thrips]]	No	N/A	No	1	0	Not freezing	No trap, no capture
·	[[Tick]]	No	N/A	No	1	0	Not freezing	No trap, no capture
∙	[[Toad]]	No	N/A	No	200	10	Any pool	Hateable
∙	[[Two-legged rhino lizard]]	No	N/A	No	1000	20	Any land	Savage, eater 2
α	[[White-spotted puffer]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Tropical oceans	No trap
~	[[Worm]]	No	N/A	No	100	10	Any temperate, any tropical, taiga	Hateable, no trap, no capture
∙	[[Wren]]	No	N/A	No	40	30	Any grassland, savanna, shrubland, forest, desert and wetland
α	[[Yellow bullhead]]	No	N/A	Yes	200	0	Temperate brackish and freshwater lakes	No trap