The 11 Best desert Sand (2023 reviews)

This is the closest to beach sand you're going to find commercially available. It's the perfect blend of sand, coconut fiber, salt and calcium carbonate that ensures a perfect consistency for burrowing crabs. It does have a kinetic sand consistency but dries out if not kept moistened. This makes it the perfect substrate for a beginner, who may not realize that the substrate should be of a sand castle consistency. It clumps well for them to push around.

This hermit sand is clean and premoistened. It should look lighter in color and should not clump together when you remove it from the pans. It is available in larger bags.

Why We Like This:

Highly recommend for all crab lovers
Lot of satisfied buyers

Best For crab: Exo Terra desert Sand

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Created over time in an african river, riverbed sand is extremely fine and round, making it an ideal and safe substrate for the aqua-terrarium. It is used for other types of water and ground-dwelling reptiles, such as frogs and salamanders, will also benefit from riverbed sand because of its soft nature.

This sand is perfect for axolots. It is very fine and can be easily secreted when ingested, unlike gravel or pebbles which can cause indigestion. It is the best sand to use for a turtle. This sand is clean without chemicals and etc. It is great for non aquatic animals.

Why We Like This:

Extremely cloudy water and clogged filter
Warms up nicely under heat lamps
Good value, nice look for terrariums

Best For Sand boas: Zoo Med desert Sand

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Repti sand creates a very naturalistic and attractive environment for desert reptile species. It is a nice reddish color. It is great for bearded dragons, sand boas, soft shell turtles etc. It clumps well so you know when to replace it, but it also sticks to the container when it's wet, so it takes extra effort to clean.

The sand is very good quality and very easy to clean.

Why We Like This:

Lot of satisfied buyers
New and hot release

Best For them: Zoo Med white Sand

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The zoo med white sand is satisfactory and appropriate and fits well with your regular usage. If you have gerbils or desert dwelling reptiles, they will feel at home with teh sand color. It is perfect for a lepord gecko, super soft sand and lasts for a long time. It has bits and pieces of "ground" in it so it's not just straight sand. It is very soft, but zero dust. This sand isn't dusty or too fine at all. It is available in two natural colors with no added dyes or chemicals. It is very safe for them and hamsters.

Why We Like This:

Great for bearded dragons, sand boas, soft shell turtles, etc
Natural looking red sand, not vibrant red like other kinds
Creates a very naturalistic and attractive environment for desert reptile species

Best For bearded dragon: Carib Sea desert Sand

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If you often find yourself confused about convenient and suitable sand, carib sea desert sand should be your first option for buying. Carib Sea calcium substrate sand is ideal for true chameleons or any tortoise, snake, lizard, arachnid or insect that comes from an arid or semi arid environment. It is made of aragonite, the most soluble form of calcium carbonate. It features 100 percent edible and easily digestible and naturally spherical grains that will not scratch valuable animals inside or out.

This sand maintains its vibrant color and is easy to scoop. It is easy to clean and thickness to sand worth the money. There are no artificial dyes or chemicals. It is great for birds to bath in. It is trusted by professional reptile breeders and hobbyists alike.

Why We Like This:

Contains naturally occurring strontium, which recent research indicates may increase bone density
Extremely affordable and easy to use
Contains strontium and magnesium while being free of silica and phosphates
Allowing reptiles to easily ingest necessary calcium for proper bone development

Best For making pin cushions: Zilla desert Sand

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The zilla desert sand should be able to handle its purpose and duties with ease. This stuff is great for filling pin cushions. It’s finely ground walnut hulls. It helps sharpen your needles. It is used for material in a rock tumbler for ball bearings. It is great for polishing aluminum in parts and vibrator.

The coolest part is that they use Walnut shells and a lot of exfoliators so if you take this product and add a little bit here so then you have your own exfoliator. It is great as filler for a sewing project.

Why We Like This:

Just the right size particle for bare feet
One of the new comers and featured product

Best For gecko: reptile Sciences desert Sand

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The reptile sciences desert sand's superior materials makes sure that it ages well with use. This stuff is 1000000% dust free and is super safe for hammys. The blue colouring doesnt dye anything so this is much more aesthetically pleasing than normal sand. It helps keep the heat in and the humidity. It is a great value and works well.

Why We Like This:

The literal best and cutest bulk hamster sand
Good investment for long term

Best For tortoise: reptile Sciences desert Sand

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The reptile sciences desert sand is suitable and reliable and fits well with your daily usage. It is great with bright accessories. The sand is pretty, easy enough to clean (for sand), and has good odor neutralizing properties. It stays black wet or dry. It doesn't sift very well and it sticks to everything. It is easy to see areas that need to be cleaned up and keeps the aquarium looking great.

Why We Like This:

Digestible calcium carbonate prevents internal and external abrasions
Remove clumped waste material on a daily basis for optimum maintenance
One of the new comers and featured product

Best For stratifying seeds: Aquanatural desert Sand

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The aquanatural desert sand is satisfactory and appropriate and fits well with your regular usage. It is one of the cleanest aquarium sands available, no toxins, no foreign matter, it is 100% natural sand sourced under license from new zealand. It's pretty simple to use and looks great for a small tank with water column feeders only. It's a very pale buff white when dry and a pale tan when wet.

This is more of a neutral/brownish sand color, like you would see at the beach. It's so pretty you won’t want to put fish in there. They dissolve and turn the sand gray. It is a 7.5 gallon tank containing one 10lb bag.

Why We Like This:

Ethically and sustainably sourced under license in new zealand
Very fine grain, no debris and did not require a rinse
Great color and contrast when using in a planted tank

Best For lizard: Carib Sea Calcium substrate Sand

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We would, of course, be remiss if we didn't mention carib sea calcium substrate sand for daily purpose. The Carib Sea calcium substrate sand is ideal for true chameleons or any tortoise, snake, lizard, arachnid or insect that comes from an arid or semi arid environment. It features 100 percent edible and easily digestible and naturally spherical grains that will not scratch valuable animals inside or out.

It is made of aragonite, the most soluble form of calcium carbonate. It includes 1-piece per pack additionally it is trusted by professional reptile breeders and hobbyists alike. There are no artificial dyes or chemicals. It is a diet additive for calcium.

Why We Like This:

Contains naturally occurring strontium, which recent research indicates may increase bone density
Allowing reptiles to easily ingest necessary calcium for proper bone development
Contains strontium and magnesium while being free of silica and phosphates

Best For leopard gecko: Imagitarium desert Sand

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The imagitarium desert sand is capable of outshining several other sand featured in this list in overall features in its price range. It helps make your reptile's habitat a home with imagitarium violet calcium sand, an excellent way to conduct heat and encourage natural digging behavior.

Why We Like This:

Effectively conducts heat and promotes digging behavior
New and hot release