If you want to know what your local fish store will look like in two years, you have to look at what’s happening in China today. CIPS 2025 (Guangzhou) wasn’t just a trade show; it was a statement from the Asian market. As an Official Media Partner, the DaniReef team spent three days behind the scenes to bring you the first look at the trends that are about to hit the global stage.

CIPS 2025 in Guangzhou is currently one of the most important exhibitions in the world for the aquarium industry, aquascaping, and Asian breeding. In this editorial, you will find the highlights of our report: Master Show, Clownfish Competition, Goldfish/Betta championships, and tech innovations, along with our professional commentary.

Before we dive into the data, grab a coffee and watch our exclusive 1-hour video tour. It’s the most comprehensive visual reportage of CIPS 2025 available online. An English audio track is available.

CIPS 2025 in Numbers – why this show really matters

If what happens in China today will shape what we will see in our local fish stores tomorrow, these numbers clearly explain why CIPS 2025 is becoming one of the true global reference points for the aquarium industry:

• 84,890 professional visitors (+21% vs 2024)
• 1,230 exhibitors spread across 100,000 m² of exhibition space
• 125+ countries represented, confirming a fully international market
• 40+ conferences, competitions and themed areas dedicated to aquatics, breeding and technology
• International exhibitors increased by 50% compared to the previous edition
• 94% of exhibitors reported establishing new business contacts during the show
• 75M+ overseas media and online visibility, with a +39% growth in international coverage

Source: CIPS 2025 Official Post-Show Report.

The Giants of Aquascaping: A Historic Meeting

The CIPS Master Show wasn’t just a competition; it was the ‘Olympics of Aquascaping.’ Watching Takayuki Fukadaand Zhang Jianfeng work in real-time is something that rarely happens outside of Asia. We documented every move of this ‘Dream Team’ for a series of technical deep-dives coming soon.

In the coming days, we will dedicate a specific article to these “Avengers” of the natural aquarium, analyzing their layout choices tank by tank in detail. But we will also make plenty of room to show you all the other aquascapes we found throughout the fair.

3rd Asia Clownfish Competition: The Future of “Marine”

We served as the Official Media Partner for the 3rd Asia Clownfish Competition. What we saw in those tanks challenges the very definition of ‘Designer Clownfish.’ From Ocellaris to Percula, the genetic selection in Asia has reached a level of artistry—and controversy—that the Western market is only beginning to grasp.

The level of genetic selection achieved in Asia with these animals is simply staggering. Thanks to our exclusive accreditation, we are preparing a detailed photographic reportage that will bring you face-to-face with the new global standards of designer clownfish.

Goldfish, Betta, and Monster Fish: The Aesthetics of Perfection

Global Goldfish Competition

While in Europe the Goldfish is often relegated to “beginner” status, here in Asia, it is an art form, a symbol of status and prosperity. The Global Goldfish Competition presented us with specimens that challenge our conception of anatomy. In the video (and in the following photographic deep-dive), you will see incredible things: from Ranchu with perfect egg-shaped bodies and no dorsal fin, to the very rare Oranda Pom-pom with spherical nasal growths that seem to defy gravity. We saw Ryukin so compressed and tall they look like sculptures, and Telescopics (Dragon Eye) of absolute geometric perfection.

Global Betta Championship

But art at CIPS is also expressed in miniature. It was impossible not to be enchanted by the displays of the Global Betta Championship: here, the Betta splendens were something marvelous—true living gemstones with finnage and colors rarely seen in the West, confirming the incredible selective level reached by Asian breeders.

Monsterfish

In Guangzhou, a Potamotrygon ray isn’t just a pet; it’s a luxury asset. With security guards protecting tanks of ‘Black Diamond’ and ‘Snow White’ rays worth as much as a high-end sports car, CIPS showed us the true scale of the Asian ‘Monster Fish’ investment market.

Alongside them were fascinating predators like the golden Siniperca chuatsi (Mandarin Fish) and the majestic Asian Arowanas (Scleropages formosus), the true queens of the fair and an undisputed symbol of luck and prosperity in local culture.

CIPS is Also (and Above All) People

Beyond the massive numbers and dream tanks, CIPS was a fundamental moment for the human side of our work. We covered miles between the booths, but the greatest satisfaction was finally putting a face to international brands we’ve collaborated with for years and, especially, meeting Italian excellence on Asian soil.

Amid thousands of unknown faces, it was fantastic to find the smile of a great friend and international master like Tony Vargas. Meeting here, in the inexhaustible energy of Guangzhou, to share hugs and opinions on the future of our hobby, is confirmation that the passion for aquaristics cancels out any geographical distance.

We also met long-time friends like Fabio from H2O Acquari, whom we bumped into at the massive booth of the Chinese distributor managing giants like Dupla, Sicce, and Aquarium Münster. We also visited the spaces of Amtra (Croci), Sicce, and Teco, pillars of “Made in Italy” that confirm how respected our aquaristics culture is globally. These meetings are more than “photo opportunities”: they are the foundation on which we build the collaborations that allow us to bring you early product reviews and tests.

Our Photo Gallery of CIPS Protagonists

Before leaving you with the full photo gallery below, I want to thank and mention all the friends, professionals, and industry legends we encountered and captured during these days. Each one contributed to making this event great. A special thanks to the Italians abroad: Fabio Cantelmo, Edoardo Rossi, Enrico Borriello, Fabrizio Gibin, and Peppe. Greetings to our partners and international faces we had the pleasure of meeting: Andrew, Claude Schuhmacher, Jack Chan, Jan Erik Nels, Helen Lee, Mark and Moritz Pahlsmeier, Mori, Paul, and Wang Zhiqiang. And not forgetting Zoey and Taryn, the angels of our station at the fair.

Here is the gallery with the best faces and moments from our CIPS 2025!

Conclusions: What are we taking home from CIPS 2025?

Three intense days, miles covered between pavilions, and hundreds of hands shaken: CIPS 2025 ends here, but for us at DaniReef, it’s just the beginning of the story. Being present as Official Media Partners (especially for the 3rd Asia Clownfish Competition) allowed us to experience the fair as protagonists, finally putting a face to the brands we use daily and discovering an Asian market that moves at an impressive speed. From majestic Arowanas to “bodyguards” for Potamotrygon rays, up to the aesthetic controversies of new Designer Clownfish, we return to Italy knowing that the center of gravity of the aquarium hobby is evolving. We have already been invited for next year to visit the production farms here in Guangzhou, a promise we intend to keep.

Let me add a deeply personal note in closing. This trip to Guangzhou had a unique flavor because I didn’t face it alone. Supporting me (and enduring me during the frenetic pace of the fair!) in this adventure on the other side of the world was my daughter Arianna, 19 years old. Sharing with her the discovery of such a different culture, the wonder at certain installations, and the gratifying exhaustion of the reportage was a magical moment of father-daughter connection. An indelible memory that goes far beyond aquaristics and made this CIPS 2025 unforgettable for my heart, even before my profession.

And you? What do you think of these “extreme oriental aesthetics”? Let us know in the comments and, if you appreciate our field reportage work, subscribe to the channel: it makes all the difference in the world to us.

What you will read on Reefs.com in the coming days

This editorial and the video are just the beginning. We have collected hundreds of photos and technical data to bring you a series of targeted deep-dives. Here is our roadmap for the week (check back for active links):

• The Titans of Aquascaping: Technical focus on the Master Show layouts. We will analyze in detail the works of the entire “Dream Team” (Takayuki Fukada, Zhang Jianfeng, Zou Weixin, Guan Liwei, Zhao Gang, Cho Jaesun, and Siak Wee Yeo) to understand new directions in aquatic design.
• Clownfish Competition Special: An exclusive reportage from the 3rd Asia Clownfish Competition, where we will show you the winners of the Ocellaris, Percula, and Open categories that are redefining the marine market.
• Goldfish & Betta Special: A practical guide to recognizing competition varieties (from Oranda Pom-poms to Ryukins and Ranchus) and a dive into the incredible colors of the Global Betta Championship.
• Monster Fish & Rare Species: The wild side of the fair, from Rhopilema jellyfish to the most exclusive Potamotrygon rays, to the true queens of the event: Asian Arowanas (Scleropages formosus).
• Technology and Trends: What’s brewing in IoT, next-gen LED lighting (with a focus on brands like Cherlam, WWWAQUA, Neptunian Cube, KeloLight, Red Starfish, Red Sea, just to name a few), and the push towards increasingly “Smart” aquariums. CIPS 2025 confirmed that the center of gravity of global aquaristics is incredibly alive in the East, not only for production but for innovation and culture.

References and Useful Links

For those who wish to dive deeper into the technical data, consult the full event statistics, or plan participation for future editions of the China International Pet Show, here are the official references:

• Official CIPS Website: China International Pet Show (CIPS)
• Statistics and Post-Show Reports: CIPS 2025 Post-show Report (Official Numbers)