Project History



I really can’t justify my stupid obsession with this talking toy fish. It’s tacky and overpriced, but for some reason, I’m consumed with putting my own spin on it.

In November of 2016, I wrote a guide on how to automatically puppet the mouth on one of these things using any audio input (including an Amazon Echo). It was a real hack job both in terms of the code and the hardware, but it has been wildly popular. People have been messaging me for an update to the guide for years, to address many of the weak points in the project — the biggest being an inability to move the mouth while also moving the head and tail.

In 2018, Amazon inexplicably partnered with the manufacturer of the Big Mouth Billy Bass to make a new, Alexa-compatible version of the toy that worked over Bluetooth. I figured this would be the end of my project’s popularity, but it turns out that the toy’s infuriatingly locked-down system was a big disappointment to many buyers. I have a whole separate video where you can learn more about the design and limitations of that product.

The silver lining of that failed product is that it created a glut of used or unsold discounted toys that are perfect for hacking.

So, in this updated version of the project, I’ve enlisted the help of my good friend Jordan Bunker and we’re going to do it right. In this guide, you’ll be hacking a Billy Bass talking fish toy so that it will respond from any Bluetooth audio source. We’ve got the mouth flapping, the head and tail flopping, and we even crammed stereo speakers inside so that everything is self-contained (no running cords out to your stereo).

Materials List

Recommended Tools

Wiring the Project

