I am calling into question the ethicality of breeding silky or silkback bearded dragons for profit, as well as the incorporation of these animals into breeding programs. For as short a time as these animals have been on the market, their health concerns are well understood - they are way more prone to injury, are hypersensitive to heat and ultraviolet light, and undergo shedding problems which can lead to missing toes or limbs. Unfortunately, this is a direct result of the desired trait of scaleless-ness. These animals will never be able to lead "normal" lives by most bearded dragon standards. We are essentially breeding an animal that is handicapped and selling it for money because of its unique trait of being handicapped. This trend of playing God / creator / mad scientist is far too common in dog, cat, and horse-breeding industries, where concern for the health of the animal sits on the backburner, while creating new and popular "designer" breeds rests at the forefront. I liken this to the breeding of dogs with the double merle gene, in that they almost always go completely blind as a result. And yet, they are very high sellers. Greed is a powerful motivator.
From the "walking in circles" behavior of the Enigma Leopard Gecko, to the wobble-headed Spider Ball Pythons, we have seen what happens when we allow greed to overcome our desire to produce genetically healthy animals. Let's not allow the beloved bearded dragon to go the same route. I worry that this lack of regard for the welfare of our reptiles is leading the industry in an unethical direction. For all the joy these animals have given us, they deserve so much better than this. I am asking all reptile hobbiests to withhold purchase of "Silky" or "Silkback" bearded dragons in protest of where the herpetocultural industry is headed. In addition, I am urging breeders of Silkbacks to halt their programs involving these lizards. We owe it to our fellow hobbyists to ensure that we are putting healthy animals onto the market, and not saturating it with genetically inferior specimens just because they "look cool". And above all, we owe it to our cold-blooded friends who have captured our hearts and imaginations.
