Goldfish Blub Earns Guinness Record Driving Motion-Sensing Car
A goldfish named Blub steered a motion-sensing car 12.28 metres in one minute, earning a Guinness World Records title.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Aquariums
Guinness World Records recognized a goldfish named Blub for steering a motion-sensing car 12.28 metres in one minute, after the attempt took place on January 23, 2025. The record was publicly reported in March 2026, and owner Thomas de Wolf received an official certificate and medal.
Why it matters
The record shows how animal movement can be translated into machine control through sensing technology. Owners of pet fish and hobbyists interested in aquarium enrichment may find the approach of combining biology and engineering notable.
The goldfish covered 12.28 metres (40 feet 3.46 inches) in 60 seconds, well above the five-metre minimum required for the record. The extraction does not indicate whether the technology has been used beyond this demonstration.
The players
Thomas de Wolf
A Dutch computer engineer who built the motion-sensing car and owns the goldfish Blub.
Guinness World Records
The organization that adjudicated and officially recognized the record for the goldfish-driven car.
The details
Thomas de Wolf, a Dutch computer engineer, built a four-wheeled motorised platform guided by a motion-sensing camera that tracks the goldfish inside a transparent water tank. The attempt was overseen by Guinness adjudicator Sofia Greenacre on the set of the Italian programme Lo Show dei Record in Milan.
Timeline
January 23, 2025: Record attempt filmed on the Lo Show dei Record set in Milan.
March 2026: Guinness World Records publicly reported the achievement.
Culture Shift
Motion-sensing camera tracking, widely used in consumer gaming and interactive displays, is here applied to a pet goldfish, extending a technology built around human gesture into the animal-enrichment space. The engineer said he hopes similar technology might one day help people with mobility issues.
Pet fish owners can see how sensing technology can be paired with a fish's natural movement to create interactive play. The extraction does not indicate that the setup is available for consumer purchase or home use.
The takeaway
Animal movement can be a practical control input for machines when a sensing system is matched to a consistent, observable behavior. Hobbyists exploring pet enrichment may find that combining simple sensors with living animals opens new ways to engage them.
Further reading
Explore more pet fish care and tank setups in our Aquariums section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.
