Codex Pets: use, create, and share animated Codex companions
Codex pets are optional animated companions for the Codex app. This hub explains the official overlay, the custom pet workflow, and where to browse community pets.
Wake or tuck away the floating pet with /pet, Settings > Appearance, or the command menu.
Install hatch-pet, generate a custom companion, and check the package files before sharing.
Compare the official AI coding pet features — pixel-art overlay vs terminal companion, customization, and community sharing.
Plan Codex pets content around user jobs
A strong Codex pets cluster should not stop at a launch explainer. Searchers need official setup help, package creation guidance, and community download paths.
Next pages in this topic cluster
Turn on the pet overlay, choose a built-in pet, and understand status prompts.
Open pagePlan the hatch-pet workflow, package files, validation, and sharing path.
Open pageCompare the official AI coding pet features — pixel-art overlay vs terminal companion.
Open pageSources used for this hub
Official reference for enabling pets, using /pet, and creating custom pets with hatch-pet.
Community gallery, hatch-pet prompt builder, and spritesheet preview tool for Codex pets.
Official Anthropic documentation for Claude Code, including the /buddy command and buddy feature.
Codex Pets FAQ
Direct answers about turning on Codex pets, creating custom pets, local package files, and community sharing.
What are Codex pets?+
Codex pets are optional animated companions in the Codex app. They appear as a floating overlay, show the active Codex thread state, and help you notice whether Codex is running, waiting for input, or ready for review. They do not replace the coding agent or make project changes by themselves.
How do I turn on Codex pets?+
Open the Codex app, go to Settings, then Appearance, and choose Pets. You can also type /pet in the composer or open the command menu with Cmd+K or Ctrl+K and run the pet toggle command. The same controls can wake the pet or tuck it away.
Can I create my own Codex pet?+
Yes, custom Codex pets are created through the hatch-pet skill. Install it with $skill-installer hatch-pet, reload skills from the command menu, then ask hatch-pet to create a new pet. Custom pets are refreshed from your local Codex home in the app appearance settings.
Where are custom Codex pet files stored?+
Custom pets live in a local folder like ~/.codex/pets/<pet-id>/ with pet.json and spritesheet.webp inside. The exact availability depends on how the pet was generated or imported.
Are community Codex pets official OpenAI pets?+
Community pets are not official OpenAI pets unless OpenAI explicitly publishes them. Treat community galleries as user-shared packages and check descriptions, rights notes, and package contents before using them in public projects. A good directory page should clearly separate official behavior from community assets.
What is the difference between /pet and hatch-pet?+
/pet toggles the pet overlay in the Codex app. hatch-pet is a skill used to create a custom pet package. Use /pet when you want to show or hide the companion, and use hatch-pet when you want to generate a new custom companion.