Salmon
passive
Health
Damage
XP Drop
Added InOverview
In Minecraft, the Salmon is classified as a passive mob — it will never attack a player and simply goes about its own behaviour.
You will normally come across salmons in the Overworld, where they appear in River, Cold Ocean, Frozen Ocean, and Frozen River.
In practice you will recognise it quickly, because swims upstream in rivers.
With 3 HP (1.5 hearts) on its bar, killing one rewards 1–3 experience.
Players have been encountering the Salmon since the 1.13 update.
Also worth noting: Used to tame cats.
Even without combat or loot to speak of, the Salmon adds character to the worlds it lives in and often plays a quiet supporting role in the wider ecosystem.
Spawning
Salmons spawn in River, Cold Ocean, Frozen Ocean, and Frozen River.
Because it appears across 4 different biome types, it is one of the easier mobs to track down — heading to any of them should turn one up before long.
Spawns in water in cold/frozen ocean and river biomes, in groups of 1-5.
Spawns commonly come in batches of 1-5, which is worth remembering when you are deciding whether to engage or retreat.
Left alone far from any player, wild salmons eventually despawn, so use a name tag if you want a specific one to stick around.
Because it is harmless, the Salmon is mostly useful as a renewable source of its drops, and you can let a small population breed up over time.
Drops
The Salmon drop table breaks down like this:
Every kill yields 1 Raw Salmon (always, 100% chance).
On top of that, rarer rolls can give 1 Bone Meal (occasionally, 5% chance).
In terms of experience, each kill is worth 1–3 XP orbs.
Raw Salmon from salmons is renewable, so a small breeding setup keeps you supplied indefinitely.
Across many kills the guaranteed items pile up steadily while the chance-based extras trickle in, so consistent farming is the way to build a meaningful stockpile.
As a harmless mob, the Salmon is best gathered opportunistically while you explore — there is no danger in collecting from it, so it rarely justifies a dedicated trip.
| Item | Count | Chance |
|---|---|---|
| Raw Salmon | 1 | 100% |
| Bone Meal | 1 | 5% |
Raw Salmon
Bone MealBehavior & Combat
Behaviourally, swims upstream in rivers. Flops on land and suffocates. Can be picked up with a water bucket.
It is fragile, with only 3 health — a single diamond-sword strike (7 damage) is enough to kill it instantly.
Because it never attacks, you are in no danger from it directly; the Salmon simply goes about its routine.
The Salmon cannot be bred, so the only way to get more is to find them spawning naturally in their home biomes.
Like other fish, you can scoop it up with a bucket of water to create a "bucket of salmon", letting you carry it home and release it into a tank or pond without it taking damage.
It is a water-dwelling creature and will suffocate if it ends up on dry land, so keeping it in water is essential if you want to transport or keep one.
All told, the Salmon is a low-risk part of the world that rewards patience more than aggression.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Salmon
How much health does a Salmon have?
A Salmon has 3 health points, which is 1.5 hearts on its health bar.
What does a Salmon drop?
When killed, a Salmon drops 1 Raw Salmon (100% chance) and 1 Bone Meal (5% chance), along with 1–3 experience.
Where do Salmons spawn in Minecraft?
Salmons spawn in River, Cold Ocean, Frozen Ocean, and Frozen River. Spawns in water in cold/frozen ocean and river biomes, in groups of 1-5.
Is the Salmon dangerous?
No. The Salmon is a passive mob that deals no damage and will never attack a player.
How much XP does a Salmon drop?
A Salmon drops 1 to 3 experience points when killed.
What biome is the best place to find Salmons?
Salmons are found in River, Cold Ocean, Frozen Ocean, and Frozen River, so any of those biomes is a good place to start looking.