How to Get a Nautilus in Minecraft: Capture, Transport & Use

Lupoi | Posted on December 16, 2025 |

Your Complete Guide to Finding, Securing, and Utilizing One of the Ocean’s Rarest Mobs

Searching for a Nautilus in Minecraft can feel like a treasure hunt. Unlike wolves or cats, these ancient shelled creatures cannot be “tamed” in the traditional sense. However, with the right knowledge, you can reliably capture them, bring them home, and unlock their unique potential. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about getting, moving, and using a Nautilus.

Key Fact First: You cannot tame, breed, or leash a Nautilus. The only way to claim one as your own is to capture it in a Bucket. Think of it as adopting a temporary aquatic pet with a very specific, powerful purpose.

What is a Nautilus in Minecraft?

The Nautilus is a passive aquatic mob that spawns naturally in Ocean biomes and Deep Ocean biomes. It’s easily recognized by its spiral, brown-and-tan shell. They are relatively rare, making finding one a small achievement in itself. Their primary—and incredibly valuable—use is as a critical ingredient in crafting the Conduit, a beacon-like block that gives you unlimited water breathing and underwater vision.

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What You’ll Need to Capture a Nautilus

Prerequisites & Materials

A Bucket: Crafted with three iron ingots. This is your only essential tool.
Water Breathing & Night Vision Potions (Optional but Highly Recommended): Makes underwater exploration safer and easier.
Depth Strider & Aqua Affinity Enchantments: For efficient movement and mining underwater.
A Boat or Dolphin (Optional): For faster travel across ocean biomes to find them.

Part 1: How to Capture a Nautilus

The process is simple once you find one. There is no trick or minigame—just a straightforward interaction.

1Find a Nautilus. Explore Ocean or Deep Ocean biomes. They spawn in groups and can be seen swimming slowly near the surface or at various depths.

2Approach with an Empty Bucket. Have your bucket selected in your hotbar. Get close to the Nautilus—right-click range is fine.

3Use the Bucket on the Nautilus. Simply right-click (Java/PC), tap (Bedrock/Mobile), or use the appropriate “use” button on the Nautilus. The Nautilus will instantly be scooped up.

4You Now Have a “Bucket of Nautilus”. The item in your inventory will transform from an empty bucket to a Bucket of Nautilus. Congratulations, you’ve successfully captured it!

Pro Tip: Nautiluses can also be obtained as a rare drop from Drowned mobs. If a Drowned spawns with a Nautilus Shell in its hand (about 3% chance in Java Edition), it has a small chance to drop the Nautilus item itself upon death. However, the bucket method is the only way to get a live, mobile Nautilus.

Part 2: How to Transport a Nautilus

Transporting your captured Nautilus is where the bucket truly shines. The Nautilus is safe inside the bucket item until you release it.

1Carry the Bucket of Nautilus. Place it in your inventory. You can now travel anywhere—through the Nether, on land, in the air—without harming it.

2Choose Your Destination. Decide where you want to release it. Popular locations include:

Inside a pre-built aquarium or zoo.
In a specific water chamber for a Conduit setup.
In a secure pond near your base.

3Release the Nautilus. Select the Bucket of Nautilus and use it (right-click) on a water source block or against a solid block adjacent to water. The Nautilus will be placed back into the world, and you’ll get your empty bucket back.

Warning: Once released, the Nautilus behaves like any wild mob. It will despawn if you move too far away and it’s not named with a Name Tag. If you want to keep it permanently in an exhibit, always use a Name Tag on it after release.

Part 3: How to Use a Nautilus

Now for the most important part: why go through all this trouble? Here are the primary uses for your captured Nautilus.

1. Crafting a Conduit

This is the #1 reason to collect Nautilus mobs. To craft a Conduit, you need:

1x Heart of the Sea (from buried treasure maps)
8x Nautilus Shells (an item, not the mob)

While the Nautilus Shell item is separate from the mob, finding live Nautiluses often goes hand-in-hand with finding shells. The mob itself is a symbol of the hunt for this powerful underwater gear.

2. Building an Aquarium or Zoo

Live Nautiluses make fantastic exhibits. Their unique model and slow, drifting movement add life and beauty to any underwater construction. They are the ultimate decorative trophy for ocean explorers.

3. Completing Advancements

In Java Edition, capturing a Nautilus in a bucket contributes to the “Tactical Fishing” advancement, which requires you to catch a fish… without a fishing rod! A Bucket of Nautilus qualifies.

Quick Troubleshooting & FAQs

Why can’t I pick up the Nautilus with my bucket?

Ensure you are using an empty regular bucket (not a milk bucket, water bucket, or lava bucket). Also, make sure you are clicking directly on the Nautilus mob.

My released Nautilus disappeared! What happened?

It likely despawned. To prevent this, use a Name Tag on it immediately after release. Name Tags can be found in dungeon chests or traded with librarian villagers.

Can I breed Nautiluses?

No. There is no breeding mechanic for Nautiluses. You must find and capture each one individually in the wild.

What’s the difference between a Nautilus (mob) and a Nautilus Shell (item)?

The Nautilus Mob is the living creature you bucket. The Nautilus Shell is an item obtained by fishing, from Drowned, or trading with Wandering Traders. You need 8 Shell items + 1 Heart of the Sea to craft a Conduit.

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Conclusion

Mastering the art of capturing a Nautilus with a bucket is a fundamental skill for any serious Minecraft ocean explorer. While they can’t be tamed or ordered to follow you, securing one in your bucket is the next best thing—giving you the power to transport this rare mob across dimensions and utilize it for supreme underwater construction (the Conduit) or majestic base decoration. So grab a bucket, head for the deep blue, and start your hunt!

Final Mission: Capture two Nautiluses. Name-tag one for your base aquarium as a trophy, and let the other serve as a reminder of your progress toward the ultimate underwater goal: activating your very own Conduit.