Mounts of Mayhem · Works in Java 26.2
How to Tame a Nautilus in Minecraft
Nautiluses are underwater mounts: feed pufferfish to tame, add a saddle, then ride with Breath of the Nautilus so you never run out of air.
1. Find a nautilus
- Spawn in all ocean biomes (not rivers/lakes)
- Groups of 1–3 between roughly Y=38–58
- Neutral — they hunt pufferfish and dash if attacked
- They can despawn until you interact; first feed/interaction makes them persistent
2. Tame with pufferfish
Pufferfish or bucket of pufferfish only.
Each use has a 1⁄3 (~33%) chance to tame. Hearts = success.
- Get pufferfish by fishing, or use a water bucket on a pufferfish
- Hold the food and use it on the nautilus (they follow players holding pufferfish)
- Repeat until hearts appear — bring a stack if you are unlucky
Tip: raw pufferfish stack; buckets do not. Prefer fish for inventory space.
3. Saddle and ride
- Craft a saddle (3 leather + 1 iron) or loot one
- Use the saddle on the tamed nautilus (or open its inventory while sneaking / mounted)
- Mount it — underwater you get Breath of the Nautilus
- Steer like a horse/camel; jump button dashes (similar to camels)
- Remove gear with shears (armor first, then saddle) if needed
Optional: equip nautilus armor (copper → netherite) in the armor slot for protection. Dispensers can also equip saddles/armor on tamed nautiluses.
4. Heal and breed
Any fish or bucket of fish heals adults. At full health, feeding two tamed adults breeds them.
- Cooked salmon heals the most (12 HP); cooked cod heals 10 HP
- Raw cod/salmon heal 4 HP; pufferfish/tropical heal 2 HP (no poison from pufferfish feed)
- Babies grow in ~20 minutes; fish speeds growth
Quick checklist
- ✓ Ocean biome, mid-depth water
- ✓ Several pufferfish ready
- ✓ Feed until hearts (1/3 per fish)
- ✓ Equip saddle → mount
- ✓ Enjoy infinite air while riding
FAQ
How do you tame a nautilus in Minecraft?
Feed it pufferfish or a bucket of pufferfish. Each feeding has a 1/3 chance to tame it. When hearts appear, it is tamed. Then equip a saddle to ride it underwater.
Where do nautiluses spawn?
In all ocean biomes, usually in groups of 1–3 between Y=38 and Y=58. They do not spawn in rivers or lakes. Cold oceans are a good place to look.
What does Breath of the Nautilus do?
While you ride a tamed, saddled nautilus underwater, you get Breath of the Nautilus — an ambient effect that pauses your oxygen bar so you do not drown.
Can you craft a saddle for a nautilus?
Yes. Craft a saddle with 3 leather and 1 iron ingot (since Chase the Skies), or loot one. Hold the saddle and use it on the tamed nautilus, or open its inventory.
How do you breed nautiluses?
Feed two tamed adult nautiluses any fish or bucket of fish while they are at full health. Babies take about 20 minutes to grow; feeding fish speeds growth (Java: each feed cuts remaining time by 10%).
What is nautilus armor?
Special armor for tamed nautiluses (copper through netherite). It goes in a separate armor slot from the saddle. Found in buried treasure and similar loot; equip by using it on the nautilus or via its inventory.
Do nautiluses work on land?
They take suffocation damage on land and move slowly, but a saddled nautilus can still be controlled and can dash. Keep them in water for normal travel.
When were nautiluses added?
Mounts of Mayhem (Java 1.21.11 / matching Bedrock drop). They still work in current Java 26.2 worlds.