Bearded dragons have a lot of things to enjoy about them, which is why they’re so popular among reptile aficionados.

These dragons are usually docile and content to spend time with their owners. They’re almost the ideal size for a pet.

They’re also typically tough animals that can tolerate the mistakes and blunders that new reptile owners frequently make. The silkback bearded dragon is one of the bearded dragons that are unique. 

What Are Silkback Bearded Dragons?

Bearded dragons with no scales or tubercles on their dorsal and ventral surfaces are referred to as “silkbacks.” These bearded dragons don’t have any distinctive coloration by nature, but their lack of scales helps their color patterns stand out more. 

Silkback bearded dragons have a very interesting color pattern, which is not something you’d see in the common bearded dragon. They have a reddish-orange belly.

Silkback bearded dragons have incredibly sensitive skin that is extremely soft to the touch. Taking care of these bearded dragons is demanding, and providing them with a happy and healthy existence is much more difficult.

Many actions that would be usual for regular bearded dragons, like breeding and shedding, are restricted due to their sensitivity.

The silkback bearded dragon trait can be traced back to a single animal that hatched with an uncommon appearance on its own.

This bearded dragon was born in Italy, but the gene has propagated throughout the bearded dragon gene pool, giving keepers in the United States, Canada, and Europe access to it.

When compared to regular bearded dragons, the cost of retaining exotic qualities is rather high: silkbacks are significantly smaller than their wild ancestors, and they can suffer from a variety of health problems throughout their lives.

Silkback Bearded Dragons: How Are They Created?

The silkback feature is the product of a single gene mutation, unlike other qualities that are controlled by numerous genes.

A silkback beardie can be produced by introducing this gene into a breeding colony, although other features may take several generations to establish.

It’s considered that the silkback characteristic is the result of an imperfect dominant mutation. These reptiles will have a modest number of scales and smaller scales than usual.

Two leatherback bearded dragons are mated to produce silkback bearded dragons. Some of the qualities that silkies have are already evident in leatherback bearded dragons. 

These bearded dragons were created by crossing two leatherback bearded dragons, which had a genetic abnormality that manifested itself as a very distinctive form. 

Care and Needs for Silkback Bearded Dragons?

Without a doubt, the silkback bearded dragon is a special breed. They’re the result of a unique gene mutation that gives them soft, sensitive skin.

This means that they need more attention and care than regular beards, so it’s important to know what you’re getting into before adopting one.

Bearded dragons that have red or orange bellies are prone to sunburn. The diet of silkbacks is limited to a specific diet. They don’t like the diet that they’re provided with, and they’re prone to sunburn.

The environment of the enclosure is also important. A warm environment will cause silkbacks to overheat and develop heatstroke. 

The silkback beardie is a sensitive animal that has to be handled carefully. These creatures need special care when handling them.

There are a lot of factors that make these bearded dragons so unique, and the care and needs of these animals are similar to those of other bearded dragons. The difference is that they require more time and attention.

You can do this in a number of ways.

1. Hydration

It’s very important to provide the silkback bearded dragon with a high-quality water source. 

Bearded dragons that are kept in captivity require water at least once a day. This is because their bodies have no natural mechanism to regulate their water intake.

A high-quality water source will help keep the water quality high, and this will prevent the silkback bearded dragon from getting dehydrated.

The quality of the water that the silkback bearded dragon drinks is important. If the water quality is low, then the dragon may suffer from health problems.

You can use either water or a combination of aloe vera and water. Fill your spray bottle half with pure aloe vera and shake it for a few seconds.

Limit your silkie bearded dragon spraying to once per day if you use this strategy. This should suffice in terms of keeping its skin hydrated!

2. Lighting

The silkback bearded dragon is prone to overheating. This can be a result of their diet and environment.

Bearded dragons that are kept in captivity require lighting in order to regulate their body temperature. 

If you’re using an artificial light source, make sure it’s very bright. This will prevent the dragon from getting overheated. You can use a special LED bulb that has a lower wattage.

In addition to sufficient lighting, you should provide plenty of shaded spots for your silkback beardie to hide in.

3. Diet

The diet of the silkback bearded dragon is very important.

It’s important to make sure that the diet that you provide the silkback bearded dragon is the best for them. These bearded dragons don’t require a special diet. 

 They also tend to get dehydrated when they’re provided with a limited diet.

The diet of a silkback beardie should be a combination of a natural diet and a specially prepared diet. It should come as no surprise that these vitamins and nutrients are crucial for shedding.

As a result, make sure your bearded dragon is eating a well-balanced diet that includes a variety of bugs, worms, vegetables, and fruits.

4. Enclosure

The enclosure that you use for your silkback bearded dragon should be suitable for them. Enclosures for bearded dragons are not as large as enclosures for other types of bearded dragons.

This is because the silkback bearded dragon is a more sensitive animal. If you use an enclosure that is too small, then you might end up with the silkback bearded dragon getting sunburned.

You should make sure that your silkback beardie has plenty of hiding spots. This will prevent them from getting sunburned. The enclosure that you use should be safe and secure.

5. Shedding

Silkbacks have an especially difficult time shedding.  When they shed, their skin peels off in very uneven patches, creating dryness and leaving patches of dead skin. 

To protect the skin from drying out and coming off, keep the humidity levels higher than with conventional lizards. Bathing helps in the shedding of hair and prevents tightness.

Small bits of skin that become stuck around the toes and tail can be gently wiped off with a soft towel to help with shedding. Silkbacks can have a variety of health problems

This bearded dragon is similar to other bearded dragons in terms of overall health, lighting, and nutrition.

The scales of an ordinary bearded dragon and a silkback bearded dragon are the only thing that distinguishes them

Because silkback bearded dragons lack scales, they have a difficult time shedding and can become dehydrated.

The importance of hydration in the shedding process cannot be overstated. As a result, in order to shed correctly, silkback bearded dragons require increased water.

Dead skin can hang off your bearded dragon and tug and rip its fresh skin if you shed it incorrectly. This can be excruciatingly unpleasant for your bearded dragon.

Silkbacks should also be kept alone, as keeping them alongside other animals, even non-aggressive lizards might result in accidents that injure their skin.

Mating Problems With A Silkback Bearded Dragon

Silkbacks are known to be particularly difficult to mate. Unfortunately, they are more difficult to pick up because they don’t have scales.

When you are trying to mate a silkback bearded dragon, you should use a female bearded dragon that is at least six months old. 

Female dragons are more prone than male dragons to be bitten on the neck during mating. Female silkbacks may suffer serious lacerations as a result of this activity, which is natural for reptiles.

These bites not only create a lot of agony for a female silkback, but they also put her at risk for serious, often life-threatening skin infections.

Many breeders prefer to pair a male silkback with a regular or leatherback female beardie instead of using female silkbacks to generate more silkies.

Due to their health difficulties, poor eating habits, and shorter lifespan, many breeders question the ethics of breeding these beardies.

Is it Good to keep Silkback Bearded Dragons for beginners?

On the whole, No, it is not good to keep silkback beardies for beginners. Silkback beardies are very sensitive, and it is easy to cause injury to their skin. 

The first thing you need to know is that these bearded dragons are much harder to breed than regular bearded dragons.

In addition, their soft, smooth skin makes them more prone to sunburn. The extensive husbandry requirements of a silkback can only be handled by expert reptile keepers.

Silkbacks are delicate creatures by nature, and it is nearly impossible to provide them with the healthy life they deserve. One of the most significant issues you may face is the near-impossibility of finding a veterinarian who is familiar with them.

Conclusion

Silkback Bearded Dragons are scaleless beardies with smooth, brightly colored skin.  Silkback beardies are an exotic pet that requires a lot of attention. They are sensitive to temperature, and their food and water requirements are quite high.

Because of their delicate nature, silkbacks are not recommended for beginners. The beginner-friendly bearded dragon is great for those who are just getting into the world of dragons.

For experienced breeders, silkbacks are also very hard to keep, and you will need a lot of expertise and knowledge to handle them. If you do decide to keep a silkback beardie, you should make sure that you have all the knowledge you need before you get one.

FAQs

What are the main characteristics of a silkback bearded dragon?

Silkback beardies are scaleless, and their skin is brightly colored.

Why do Silkback Bearded Dragons have to be kept alone?

Silkbacks are extremely sensitive, and their skin can be damaged by the activities of other animals.

They are also prone to skin infections, and they are very hard to keep. If you keep a silkback alongside other animals, you might injure their skin.

What are the best foods for Silkback Bearded Dragons?

Silkback beardies should be fed with a high-quality, natural diet. They need to eat foods like fresh fruit, vegetables, and meat. If you want your pet to have the best digestion, make sure they’re eating foods that are easy for their systems.