A handful of species are kept in aquariums and are popular as small, peaceful, and colourful fish.

They are generally small fish, with most species being less than 10 cm (4 in), and are often brightly coloured.

Most species live in tropical or subtropical waters, where they inhabit coral reefs and lagoons.

Males incubate the eggs in their mouth due to having longer heads and a larger jaw, which females do not acquire.

[2] The fifth edition of Fishes of the World recognises only two subfamilies of the Apogonidae:[3]