Note: Fiber pigtails have either female connectors (used in patch panels for easy connections) or male connectors (directly plugged into optical transceivers for signal transmission). This article will show you what a fiber optic pigtail is. The connector side plugs into a fiber adapter, while the bare fiber end is typically fusion spliced into the main fiber cable. Get the wrong connector type, the wrong polish, or skip proper fusion splicing technique—and you're looking at elevated signal loss, increased back reflection, and a. A fiber pigtail is a short length of optical fiber that comes with a high-quality, factory-polished connector already installed on one end, leaving a length of exposed glass on the other. It is usually suitable for field termination using a mechanical or fusion splicer.