Which underwater mob can be used as a source of air?

A pufferfish is the underwater mob that can be used as a source of air in Minecraft. More precisely, it is brewed into a Potion of Water Breathing, allowing players to stay underwater without losing oxygen.

To make the potion, place a pufferfish in a brewing stand with an Awkward Potion. The resulting Water Breathing potion normally lasts three minutes; adding redstone dust extends it to eight minutes. This makes pufferfish especially useful for ocean monuments, underwater bases, and long diving trips.

Pufferfish are found in warm and lukewarm ocean biomes and can also be caught while fishing. They are dangerous to touch: when approached or damaged, they inflate and inflict damage and Poison. That defensive behavior often makes players remember them as hazards rather than brewing ingredients.

A common mix-up is confusing the pufferfish with a direct air source. The mob does not create an air pocket or refill the oxygen bar by itself. Its role is indirect: it supplies the brewing ingredient for Water Breathing. Pufferfish were added to Java Edition in version 1.7.2, the 2013 “Update That Changed the World.”