How to determine dragonface or network pipefish gender?

[brandyrb]

I bought a pair of dragonface pipefish recently and I'd really like information on what to look for so I can determine their gender. I've searched all over the web via google with barely any results. What are the visible reproductive organ differences? Any pictures or links to informative sites to sex dragonface or network pipefish would be greatly appreciated.

Here's one of my pipefish, notice the little black spot protruding out from its belly. (shows up as blue in the pic) Male or female? The other pipefish I have has a dark spot in the same area, but it doesn't stick out like this one does:

 

[wolfman1973]

hello,i have a pair and they are on there 9th batch of eggs.the one in your pic is a male.see that area that is blue with little orange claspers,my female doesn't have an area colored like that so that is one way to tell in my opinion.

 

[brandyrb]

The other one has a dark spot in the same area, but it doesn't stick out. Would that one be a male too? What does the females belly look like?

 

[wolfman1973]

my female doesn't seem to have a dark spot but my male has the bright blue spot with the orange claspers,and his sticks out,also my male seems to have more spikes on his head.hope this helps and i agree,i looked everywhere for info on sexing them and found very little.lucky for me,they started mating about a week after i added them to my mixed reef and they release the young about every 10 days and then mate the next day when my actinics come on

 

[ReefRMadness710]

Did you Have any luck with the babies in the mixed reef?