How to reproduce:
Recreate the above setup in minecraft, with no other water sources nearby (can use any solid blocks, I used barriers for visibility)
Spawn an Axolotl nearby and observe.
This happens even when there are other water sources available, if the axolotl is spawned closer to the inaccessible water source than an accessible one (guy in the the picture is in the process of spinning)
[media]See attached video
The spinning doesn't always happen; when the bottom layer of the water is above the axolotl, it just looks up and doesn't spin
Linked issues
is duplicated by
relates to
Attachments
Comments

I can reproduce a similar bug. If an axolotl is attempting to pathfind towards a player holding a bucket of tropical fish, the axolotl starts to spin. I am unsure if this should be put in a separate report, but it is likely caused by the same issue. I have attached a video:
[media]@unknown, that looks like a separate issue worth a separate bug report in that axolotls always start spinning when they cannot pathfind. This bug report is more about the fact that they try to pathfind towards water through walls / obstructions. I think it's probably best to separate these two issues.
Can confirm in 21w03a.
Can confirm in 21w05a.
Can confirm in 21w06a.
Can confirm in 21w08b.
Can confirm in 21w11a.
Can confirm in 21w13a.

Is it odd that I wish this never gets fixed?
(I'll unfix it myself if I have to. Mixins go brrrr)
Can confirm in 21w14a.

I'm not able to repro this in in 21w16a.

I can confirm for 21w16a
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWsFz8pc-KQ&ab_channel=UczciwyGracz
Can also confirm that this is still an issue in 21w16a. I'm requesting that this report is reopened.

How are you creating that setup? Is this behaviour reproducable without it?
Keeping closed as Awaiting response for now.

Nvm, I can repro using barrier blocks infront of the water.
Can confirm in 21w17a. I've attached a new video. Hopefully, this clears up any confusion.
[media]
It's worth clarifying that this does happen even without barrier blocks

Not fixed in 21w20a. Axolotls don't spin anymore, but they still try to reach unreachable water sources, even when there's other, reachable water nearby. They still die from this. I attached an image of this in the new snapshot, the Axolotls will kind of wander back and forth next to the 2 block tall wall.

New bug report → MC-228464
Relates to MC-208662