The silkback bearded dragon is part of the reptile family. They are popular pets because their skin is remarkably smooth and offers numerous colorful markings.

Silkies share many traits with their scaled bearded dragon counterparts, but they also have some unique challenges to consider.

Two leatherback bearded dragons bred together produce a silkie, as do two silkback bearded dragons. Is it ethical to breed an animal that may not survive well in a natural habitat?

Ethics of Breeding “Silkie” Silkback Bearded Dragons

Silkback bearded dragons, or “Silkies,” have a genetic mutation that presents them with a lack of scales. This trait makes them more prone to certain health issues. Their colorful markings and smooth skin make them unique, but they also struggle to remove some skin when shedding.

Since the silkback bearded dragon has no scales, they tend to shed their skin more often. When this event occurs, it’s not unusual for some larger patches to get stuck. It creates itchy areas that become dry, resulting in possible injury if level untreated.

Silkies have skin that covers their eyes during the shedding process. They need help removing it when this stage occurs because they cannot do it themselves.

The enclosure’s humidity for a silkback bearded dragon needs to be more humid than it would be for other reptiles. You’ll need to mist the enclosure frequently and provide more water throughout the day. When you have enough moisture available, the skin of a silkie tends to shed better.

Some pet stores sell a product called liquid shed ease, which you can add to the silkback bearded dragon’s bath. This extra step provides even more help when dead skin removal is necessary.

If you don’t have a local pet store, consider getting Zilla Shed-Ease Reptile Bath Treatment for your bearded dragon. It only takes a 20-minute soak to help remove the dead skin that sometimes gets stuck.

Silkies need to shed their old skin so that they can grow. When you increase the moisture in their environment and use a liquid spa-style product that encourages its removal, you’ll be providing a better care experience.

What Is the Issue with the Ethics of Breeding Silkies?

The primary ethical concern for breeding silkback bearded dragons is if the handler attempts to work with two silkies for this process.

A bearded dragon male naturally bites the female’s back or neck during the mating process. Since these animals typically have scales, this behavior isn’t bothersome.

Even when breeding two leatherback bearded dragons, the biting behavior isn’t unsafe for either animal.

When choosing to breed silkback bearded dragons, the male’s teeth can cause lacerations to the female. Not only is this a painful event, but it also can lead to infections.

If the female already has a health issue or infection, it can spread to the mail when the teeth penetrate the skin.

Since the silkback bearded dragon occurs because of a genetic mutation that prevents scale development, this animal is often prone to health issues – even with proper care. When they’re not raised in a supportive environment or handled with care, these traits can lead to a decreased lifespan.

Here are some of the health issues that silkback bearded dragons develop more frequently than their scaled counterparts.

1. Dehydration

Since the silkback bearded dragon doesn’t have scales, it loses more moisture than scaled reptiles. In a hot environment, this trait often leads to dehydration.

If it looks like your silkie has sunken eyes or wrinkled skin, those signs indicate that more fluids are necessary.

An easy way to add moisture is to mist the food given to the silkie. The insects used should be healthy and have proper hydration. You can even provide vegetables and dark, leafy greens to push the water content higher.

Most silkback bearded dragons need baths two or three times per week.

When these tips aren’t taking care of the dehydration symptoms you see, you’ll want to contact your local exotic vet for extra advice and support.

2. Mouth Rot

This condition is officially called “infectious stomatitis.” It is a bacterial infection that sets into the jaw and gums of the silkback bearded dragon.

When this infection occurs, it often looks like the gums are swollen and bleeding. Some animals develop a thick mucus that makes it hard for them to open their mouths.

Most issues with mouth rot involve improper care. The enclosure might not be warm enough for the silkie, the diet could be poor, or you could have too many bearded dragons in the same space.

The best way to eliminate this health condition is to correct the caregiving problems while visiting an exotic veterinarian or an antimicrobial treatment.

3. Parasites

The silkback bearded dragon can develop external and internal parasites. The first option is typically mites, which you’ll see as black or red specks on the skin. With the latter, it is often hookworms or tapeworms.

Mites can spread to the enclosure or to you when handling the silkie.

It isn’t as easy to detect internal parasites. You might notice diarrhea, worms in the stool, or less energy from the animal.

Whenever you see parasites or the evidence of their presence, you’ll need to clean and disinfect your silkie’s enclosure.

Zoo Med Wipe Out 1 is an excellent disinfectant product that offers cleaning and deodorizing traits. It is powerful enough to reduce the spread of bacterial infections when used according to the bottle’s instructions.

It shouldn’t be used on materials that could absorb the disinfectant. It kills germs when given enough time to dry. If you keep bark in your enclosure, this material will need to be removed before use to ensure a healthy environment is maintained.

4. Adenovirus Infections

Unfortunately, this infection is always fatal. When your silkie bearded dragon catches this virus, you will notice that it will start wasting away. The animal begins to appear lethargic, often stops eating, and will lose weight.

An adenovirus issue can cause several secondary health issues, including gastrointestinal problems, hepatitis, and other infections.

Silkies can be adenovirus carriers without showing any symptoms, passing it along to other animals. The only way to know for certain is to have your exotic veterinarian perform fecal testing.

The only treatment option is to provide comfort measures if this health issue develops.

5. Respiratory Infections

This health issue is prevalent for silkback bearded dragons. Several issues can lead to an increased risk in this area.

• The animal isn’t getting enough food, or the supply doesn’t provide an adequate nutrition profile.
• Enclosures that aren’t clean enough for the silkback can trigger unwanted respiratory symptoms and eventual infection.
• When a terrarium or tank is too cold, this health issue is known to develop.

The symptoms of a respiratory infection in silkback bearded dragons can be highly variable. You might see discharge from the nose or eyes, changes to their breathing, or more attempts to get air through the mouth.

Some animals might sneeze or have bubbles form near their mouths or noses.

If you see any of these symptoms, it helps to review the environment to see if changes are necessary. It might be possible to offer some relief by raising the temperature, increasing humidity, or providing more water.

When a respiratory issue develops, it’s also helpful to disinfect the enclosure with Zoo Med Wipe Out 1.

What Is the Best Enclosure for a Bearded Dragon?

The best enclosure for a silkback bearded dragon is a reptile tank that would hold at least 120 gallons of water when filled. It should be structured like a terrarium, offering places for venting, heat lamps, and other care supplies.

When you have a tank of that size, you’ll have enough space for an adult bearded dragon to roam without feeling cramped.

If you have a juvenile silkie, it is possible to start with a 40-gallon habitat or something a little larger, but you’ll need to upgrade your space as the animal grows.

Bearded dragons prefer more horizontal spaces with extra substrate instead of climbing mechanisms.

I use the REPTIZOO Tempered Glass Reptile Terrarium for my bearded dragon. Although it costs a little more than a standard glass aquarium, I’ve found the setup works really well for maintaining the moisture my silkie requires. The back and side come with dark tinted glass to ensure temperatures stay high.

The terrarium offers sliding doors in the front that make it easy to provide food and water without risking escape. Secure locks ensure that unwanted movement inside or out cannot occur.

It only takes about five minutes to assemble the terrarium. I don’t use a background in mine, but there is enough space for one if you want to include bark, cork, or another natural material.

My favorite feature of the terrarium is the bottom plate is raised so that a substrate heater can be mounted safely and securely. It gives you the option to provide heat along the ground for an extended space, which is helpful in the winter when lamps and other tools don’t quite get the temperature levels right.

How to Care for Silkies Properly

If you’ve decided that having a silkback bearded dragon is right for you, these care tips can help you have a positive experience.

Silkie Caregiving Tip	Why This Silkie Caregiving Tip Is Important
Provide Nutrition	About 80% of the silkback bearded dragon’s food comes from veggies and greens. Choose products with higher water content, such as cucumbers, celery, and lettuce. Any insects should be in excellent health.
Lots of Fresh Water	The water dish should be cleaned and refilled at least once per day for silkies. If you have multiple animals at home, consider having one dish available for each bearded dragon.
Habitat Maintenance	Although all bearded dragons have similar requirements, a silkie needs a low-UVB light and shaded areas to prevent dehydration problems from developing.
Frequent Misting	Mist the enclosure daily to ensure there is enough humidity for the animal. You can add water to the different food options to increase the intake, especially when you might be gone for most of the day.
Plenty of Baths	Silkbacks have shedding and dehydration issues that require ongoing care. Providing a frequent bathing experience will resolve many of these concerns. Younger bearded dragons shed more often, which means they’ll need more attention.
Exotic Vet Care	Although any veterinarian is better than no care at all, exotic vets have special training to understand the health needs of your reptile. A quick response when the signs and symptoms of an illness develop can help a silkie get on the road to recovery quickly.

Should I Get or Breed a Silkback Bearded Dragon?

The ethics of breeding or having a silkback bearded dragon at home are individual decisions. When given proper care, silkies can thrive. Although they require additional attention compared to their scaled counterparts, having one or more can be an enriching experience.

I had a terrifying experience in second grade with a reptile. We had someone come with a bunch of bearded dragons, snakes, and other animals that our class got to hold and touch.

At first, I thought it would be great to hold a boa constrictor. Four of my classmates went up with me for a photo opportunity.

Wouldn’t you know, that snake decided to curl up my arm and start squeezing. It hurt a lot, and it seemed like forever before the handler got it to release.

Throughout the rest of my childhood, I avoided any reptiles whenever possible. It didn’t matter if they were in the wild or in a terrarium.

Our local animal shelter had a silkie surrendered because the family couldn’t care for it. They didn’t know what to do, so I decided to take the bearded dragon home.

It’s been therapeutic because I have to care for my silkie daily. As I see him thrive, it gives me the confidence to work with reptiles more. Although there are health issues always to manage proactively, it’s been a rewarding experience.