diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/cod.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/cod.lua
index bc65faebed..eeb1228c85 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/cod.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/cod.lua
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ local cod = {
 	xp_max = 3,
 	armor = 100,
 	rotate = 180,
-	spawn_in_group_min = 3,
-	spawn_in_group = 8,
+	spawn_in_group_min = 2, -- was 3
+	spawn_in_group = 4, -- was 8 nerfed until we can cap them properly locally. this is a group size, not a per spawn attempt
 	tilt_swim = true,
 	collisionbox = {-0.3, 0.0, -0.3, 0.3, 0.79, 0.3},
 	visual = "mesh",
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/cow+mooshroom.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/cow+mooshroom.lua
index 1ec06b44b1..64f74c5163 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/cow+mooshroom.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/cow+mooshroom.lua
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ local cow_def = {
 	xp_max = 3,
 	collisionbox = {-0.45, -0.01, -0.45, 0.45, 1.39, 0.45},
 	spawn_in_group = 4,
-	spawn_in_group_min = 3,
+	spawn_in_group_min = 2,
 	visual = "mesh",
 	mesh = "mobs_mc_cow.b3d",
 	textures = { {
@@ -93,8 +93,8 @@ mcl_mobs.register_mob("mobs_mc:cow", cow_def)
 -- Mooshroom
 local mooshroom_def = table.copy(cow_def)
 mooshroom_def.description = S("Mooshroom")
-mooshroom_def.spawn_in_group_min = 4
-mooshroom_def.spawn_in_group = 8
+mooshroom_def.spawn_in_group_min = 2
+mooshroom_def.spawn_in_group = 4
 mooshroom_def.textures = { {"mobs_mc_mooshroom.png", "mobs_mc_mushroom_red.png"}, {"mobs_mc_mooshroom_brown.png", "mobs_mc_mushroom_brown.png" } }
 mooshroom_def.on_rightclick = function(self, clicker)
 	if self:feed_tame(clicker, 1, true, false) then return end
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/dolphin.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/dolphin.lua
index 0e5c8e7eea..153734c391 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/dolphin.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/dolphin.lua
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ local dolphin = {
 	walk_chance = 100,
 	breath_max = 120,
 	rotate = 180,
-	spawn_in_group_min = 3,
-	spawn_in_group = 5,
+	spawn_in_group_min = 2, -- was 3
+	spawn_in_group = 4, -- was 4. nerfed until water has own cap, and it represents max pack size rather than per spawn attempt
 	tilt_swim = true,
 	collisionbox = {-0.3, 0.0, -0.3, 0.3, 0.79, 0.3},
 	visual = "mesh",
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/horse.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/horse.lua
index 7f61627bc9..e0f95df4da 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/horse.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/horse.lua
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ local horse = {
 	type = "animal",
 	spawn_class = "passive",
 	spawn_in_group_min = 2,
-	spawn_in_group = 6,
+	spawn_in_group = 4, -- was 6. nerfed until group size is a cap rather than per spawn cycle
 	visual = "mesh",
 	mesh = "mobs_mc_horse.b3d",
 	visual_size = {x=3.0, y=3.0},
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/llama.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/llama.lua
index 503f4207ba..32bfc97ea9 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/llama.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/llama.lua
@@ -56,8 +56,8 @@ mcl_mobs.register_mob("mobs_mc:llama", {
 	shoot_interval = 5.5,
 	arrow = "mobs_mc:llamaspit",
 	shoot_offset = 1, --3.5 *would* be a good value visually but it somehow messes with the projectiles trajectory
-	spawn_in_group_min = 4,
-	spawn_in_group = 6,
+	spawn_in_group_min = 2, -- was 4
+	spawn_in_group = 4, -- was 6 nerfed until we can cap them properly locally. this is a group size, not a per spawn attempt
 
 	head_swivel = "head.control",
 	bone_eye_height = 11,
diff --git a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/tropical_fish.lua b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/tropical_fish.lua
index bb9b63f64d..702c692b8c 100644
--- a/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/tropical_fish.lua
+++ b/mods/ENTITIES/mobs_mc/tropical_fish.lua
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ local tropical_fish = {
 	xp_min = 1,
 	xp_max = 3,
 	armor = 100,
-	spawn_in_group = 9,
+	spawn_in_group = 4, -- was 9. nerfed until aquatics use own cap rather than animal, and it represents pack size, not per spawn attempt
 	tilt_swim = true,
 	collisionbox = {-0.2, 0.0, -0.2, 0.2, 0.1, 0.2},
 	visual = "mesh",