I've been gone for a couple years so I don't recall: is there a specific way to level up minions? I see in my zoo that there are levels and stats, but I can't find anything about how to increase their experience points or anything.

yep. The minion zoo has an incomplete battle option. Just click on any minion with stats and you will go into battle. After a certain amount of battles (experience) the minion automatically levels up. Note that if you remove a minion from the zoo that has leveled up, it will revert to base level.

If you hover over the ? next to the level, it will show you how far you are along to the next level.

oh wow, i had no idea this was even an option! do they help out in regular battles or do they only go up against other minions?

they only go against other minions. And you can't add them as your pet's minion because they lose their stats as soon as they leave the zoo.

The system was tested, but never completed. They never shut it down though, so you can still play. You run into stuff that says "write a description about this effect" while battling. Some special effects don't seem to work as described. Its not a bad system if you want to do battle type activities without the complications of pet battling, training and weapons.

oh what!! ive been a member for a few years now. I can't believe i'm just now learning this lmao

i think it's a little odd that they lose their stats when they leave the zoo, but i guess that could be something to do with it being an incomplete feature. i suppose they wouldn't need the stats outside of minion zoo battles anyway, but it would be fun to show off how OP your minion is while it's attached to your pet :P

i was just wondering this today and could not figure it out for the life of me! thank you!!

Play at your own risk though! I broke my zoo months ago by removing a minion and there's no way to access it now according to staff. ):