The 5 Best soil substrates For Reptile (2023 reviews)

It is important to have the well suited soil substrate for reptile. In the following post, we will help you to select the best soil substrate for reptiles.

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Our Top Picks:

Best Overall: Buy: Joshs frogs ABG mix READ REVIEW

Best For tropical And forest habitats: Buy: Zilla soil Substrate For Reptile READ REVIEW

Best For Bearded Dragon: Buy: Croci soil Substrate For Reptile READ REVIEW

Best For leopard gecko: Buy: Joshs frogs soil Substrate For Reptile READ REVIEW

Best For lush plant growth: Buy: Exo Terra soil Substrate For Reptile READ REVIEW

Best Overall: Joshs frogs ABG mix

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The joshs frogs abg mix's material feels more premium than its price would suggest. An animal may easily scratch themselves or ingest some of this soil when burying. This is definitely the way to go for terrarium success. It looks natural, and is a far safer alternative for reptile friendly, bioactive substrate than coconut fiber and sand. It is designed to break down slowly, making it prime for use in terrariums/vivariums. It has a pleasant, earthy smell, not pungent, and it holds moisture very well.

This is a complete substrate. It is only 1mm and as cute as a button. There's no horrid smells or anything and the springtails and plants love it. This is the best mix for a bioactive set up.

• Nothing harmful, just clean up crew type critters such as earthworms and millipedes
• Great for your vivarium, terrarium, or paludarium
• Good dirt for tropical set ups

Best For tropical And forest habitats: Zilla soil Substrate For Reptile

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The zilla soil substrate for reptile should be able to handle its purpose and duties with ease. This U.S.-made product is blended to be completely biodegradable, so it is as good for earth s environment as it is for a reptile ’s environment. It is ideal for tropical and forest habitats. It is light weight too. This soil has bits and pieces of other bark like substrate. It holds so much humidity. It is used to make a bioactive soil for reptiles. It is ideal for reptiles to move comfortably in. It would work great for a scorpion.

• Good soil for humidity with care
• Forest smell, twigs, sticks, overall a good substrate
• New and hot release

Best For Bearded Dragon: Croci soil Substrate For Reptile

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Not everyone likes to purchase substrate for their daily usage, but the croci soil substrate for reptile would be an anomoly. Excavator clay holds tunnels extremely well, while allowing reptiles to act on natural digging instincts. It holds very well for burrowing species and looks natural. It is meant for reptile substrate, not for fish. The fine clay mixes beautifully with potting soil (soil run through a blender for super fine soil), to create the perfect mix for moss.

This actually works better than Repticarpet or tile as the heat is evenly distributed and retained for longer. It can be achieved with a little creative land planning. The lizards cannot ingest it, easy to clean, looks great, and you can mold it into caves, hills, or whatever you want to design. It is a dry clay and should not be difficult unless it gets wet.

• Really changes the entire look of bearded dragon terrarium
• You can embed fake plants and plastic rocks so they are sturdy
• Clean up is also very easy

Best For leopard gecko: Joshs frogs soil Substrate For Reptile

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Compared with other substrate in this category, the joshs frogs soil substrate for reptile has a convenient design. This product is good if you have fat tailed geckos and things of the like. It is a perfect substrate for a digger, easy to use, and it's easy to keep damp, but it smells like almost nothing at all. It has been formulated to support plants and microfauna. It is a burrowing and tunneling friendly substrate made to provide behavioral enrichment for your pets.

This substrate is a sandy mix. It is much softer than coconut fiber so there’s way less possibility of getting splinters in your little gecko’s feet and it stays relatively moist/humid if needed. It is great for the live plants in their tanks.

• Extra soft consistency perfect for delicate pets
• Good brand reputation

Best For lush plant growth: Exo Terra soil Substrate For Reptile

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Best part: exo terra soil substrate for reptile costs comparatively low and it is available to ship in 24 hours. The Exo Terra Sub Stratum is collected from the mineral-rich foothills of the Aso Volcano in Japan. It is a natural bioactive soil. The natural volcanic soil, formed from andesitic and rhyolitic tephra, is very nutrient rich, ideal for lush plant growth in bioactive planted terrariums. It is ideal for lush plant growth in bioactive planted terrariums.

The Sub Stratum’s friable, low density structure promotes a flourishing population of beneficial, nitrifying biological activity, creating a self-sustaining, living terrarium ecosystem. The active biological activity of the soil will decompose biological waste, keeping the terrarium clean and healthy.

• Keeps the terrarium clean and healthy
• Good investment for long term