Best Terrarium Substrate of 2025

Chloe Foster Avatar
Chloe Foster
Last Updated: 6 Feb 2025

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Terrarium substrate is a vital component for creating a healthy and sustainable habitat for reptiles, amphibians, and other small animals. This natural material is used to line the bottom of a terrarium and provides a foundation for plants and other decorations. It also helps to absorb moisture and odours, and can aid in stabilising temperature and humidity levels. With a variety of options available, such as coconut coir, sphagnum moss, and clay balls, there is a substrate type to suit every terrarium and its inhabitants.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Exo Terra Plantation Soil for Terrariums Cover #TOP 1
Exo Terra Plantation Soil for Terrariums
ftb score rating icon 9.9
Exo Terra Bioactive Volcanic Substrate 2kg for Terrariums Cover #TOP 2
Exo Terra Bioactive Volcanic Substrate 2kg for Terrariums
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Exo Terra Natural Fir Bark Substrate Cover #TOP 3
Exo Terra Natural Fir Bark Substrate
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Terrarium Substrate

#TOP 1

Exo Terra Plantation Soil for Terrariums

Plantation Soil
Brown
8.8 Litre
Exo Terra Plantation Soil for Terrariums Cover
Exo Terra Plantation Soil Substrate, 8.8 Litre

The Exo Terra Plantation Soil is perfect for creating natural terrarium set-ups. It helps to increase humidity levels, ensuring a comfortable environment for your plants and animals. This substrate also stimulates natural digging and burrowing behaviour, allowing your pets to express their instincts. Additionally, it provides an organic base that can enhance the overall aesthetics of your terrarium. With this product, you can create a thriving habitat that supports both the visual appeal and the well-being of your terrarium inhabitants.

What We Like
Natural terrarium setup
Increases humidity
Encourages digging behaviour
Organic substrate
#TOP 2

Exo Terra Bioactive Volcanic Substrate 2kg for Terrariums

PT3183
Brown
2 kg
Exo Terra Bioactive Volcanic Substrate 2kg for Terrariums Cover
Exo Terra Bioactive Volcanic Substrate 2kg

The Exo Terra Volcanic Substrate is designed to keep your terrarium clean and healthy. Its brilliantly porous and mineral-rich composition ensures effective drainage, helping to maintain optimal conditions for your plants and animals. By eliminating ammonia and unpleasant odours, this substrate creates a more pleasant environment for both you and your terrarium inhabitants. Ideal for bioactive planted setups, it supports a thriving ecosystem, making your terrarium maintenance easier and more enjoyable.

What We Like
Maintains terrarium cleanliness
Highly porous and mineral-rich
Reduces ammonia and odours
Excellent drainage capabilities
#TOP 3

Exo Terra Natural Fir Bark Substrate

PT2750
4.4 litre
Exo Terra Natural Fir Bark Substrate Cover
Exo Terra Forest Bark Substrate, 4.4L

The Exo Terra Bark Substrate is made from 100 percent natural fir bark, making it an excellent choice for your terrarium. Its hygroscopic nature means it readily absorbs and releases moisture, which is essential for maintaining humidity levels for humidity-loving reptiles. This substrate also helps control air humidity, ensuring a comfortable environment for your pets. Additionally, it stimulates natural digging and burrowing behaviour, allowing your reptiles to engage in instinctual activities that promote their well-being.

What We Like
100% natural ingredients
Maintains air humidity
Encourages natural behaviour
Ideal for humidity-loving reptiles
#TOP 4

Exo Terra Natural Desert Terrarium Substrate

PT3136
Red Outback Stone
10 kg
Exo Terra Natural Desert Terrarium Substrate Cover
Exo Terra Outback Red Stone Desert Natural Terrarium Substrate (10kg)

The Exo Terra Desert Substrate is a natural desert soil designed without added dyes or chemicals, making it safe for your terrarium. This substrate is perfect for creating your own desert or savannah landscape, giving you the freedom to design unique outcrops, tunnels, and burrows. It encourages natural digging and burrowing behaviour in your pets, promoting a more enriching environment. Additionally, it maintains its structure once dry, ensuring that your carefully crafted landscapes remain intact.

What We Like
Natural ingredients, safe for pets
Encourages natural behaviours
Versatile landscape creation
Stays stable when dry
#TOP 5

Arcadia Earth Mix Substrate for Terrariums

RARE10
10 Litre
Arcadia Earth Mix Substrate for Terrariums Cover
Arcadia Earth Mix Substrate 10 Litres

The Arcadia Earth Mix Substrate is designed for bioactive vivariums and terrariums, making it ideal for recreating both forest and arid environments. This substrate is supercharged with essential nutrients and minerals, helping to promote healthy plant growth. It also contains worm manure, which enriches the substrate and supports a thriving ecosystem. Additionally, the inclusion of volcanic lava enhances drainage, ensuring that your plants do not become waterlogged. Using this substrate can significantly improve the overall health and beauty of your terrarium.

What We Like
Bioactive substrate for healthy ecosystems
Nutrient-rich for plant growth
Contains beneficial worm manure
Good drainage with volcanic lava
#TOP 6

Komodo Tropical Terrain Natural Substrate

u46001
Komodo Tropical Terrain Natural Substrate Cover
Komodo Tropical Terrain Compact Brick, Natural Substrate for Woodland or Rainforest Habitats

The Komodo Tropical Terrain Substrate is a natural substrate designed specifically for woodland and rainforest habitats. This product is ideal for creating a comfortable environment for your pets, encouraging their natural burrowing behaviours. By using this substrate, you provide a more authentic habitat that promotes well-being. Trusted by professional breeders worldwide, it ensures a reliable choice for anyone looking to enhance their terrarium setup.

What We Like
Natural substrate for pets
Encourages natural burrowing
Ideal for woodland habitats
Preferred by professional breeders
#TOP 7

Swell Coco Soil Reptile Substrate 10 Litre Bag

Swell Coco Soil Reptile Substrate 10 Litre Bag Cover
Swell Coco Soil Reptile Substrate | 10 Litre Bag | Made From Coconut Coir Fibre | Superb Substrate

The Swell Coco Soil Substrate is a rich coco fibre substrate, perfect for rainforest reptile enclosures. You can use it alone or mix it with sand, moss, or husk to create an ideal habitat for your reptiles. This 10-litre bag of loose coco fibre is particularly beneficial for planted terrariums, especially when combined with a drainage substrate. Additionally, it serves as an environmentally-friendly foundation, making it great for bioactive setups that promote healthy ecosystems.

What We Like
Ideal for rainforest reptiles
Mixes well with other materials
Great for planted terrariums
Environmentally-friendly option
#TOP 8

Exo Terra Bahariya Black Stone Terrarium Substrate

PT3147
5 kg
Exo Terra Bahariya Black Stone Terrarium Substrate Cover
Exo Terra Bahariya Black Stone Desert Natural Terrarium Substrate (5kg)

The Exo Terra Black Stone Substrate is a natural desert soil that contains no added dyes or chemicals, making it a safe choice for your terrarium. This substrate is perfect for creating your own desert or savannah landscape, allowing you to customise the environment to suit your needs. You can easily form outcrops, tunnels, and burrows, which helps to simulate the natural habitat of your pets. Additionally, it encourages natural digging and burrowing behaviour, promoting a more active and healthy lifestyle for your animals.

What We Like
Natural and safe ingredients
Customisable desert landscapes
Supports natural animal behaviour
Encourages digging and burrowing
#TOP 9

Exo Terra Equatorial Forest Substrate 4.4 Litres

PT3112
brown
SMALL
Exo Terra Equatorial Forest Substrate 4.4 Litres Cover
Exo Terra Equatorial Forest Substrate 4.4 Litres,brown,SMALL

The Exo Terra Substrate is designed to mimic a natural forest floor, creating an ideal environment for your terrarium. It helps maintain a soft and moist substrate, ensuring that your pets feel comfortable and secure. Additionally, it provides a perfect hiding place, which is essential for their well-being. You can also nurture live plants, as this substrate is nutritional, enhancing the overall aesthetic of your terrarium.

What We Like
Natural forest floor appearance
Soft and moist substrate
Provides hiding places
Nutritional for live plants
Odour absorbent
#TOP 10

Exo Terra Bioactive Volcanic Substrate 4kg for Terrariums

PT3184
Brown
4 kg
Exo Terra Bioactive Volcanic Substrate 4kg for Terrariums Cover
Exo Terra Bioactive Volcanic Substrate 4kg

The Exo Terra Volcanic Substrate is perfect for creating bioactive planted terrariums. With live beneficial bacteria, it helps establish a healthy ecosystem, ensuring your plants thrive. Its excellent drainage capabilities prevent waterlogging, which can harm your plants. Additionally, the substrate is brilliantly porous and mineral-rich, providing vital nutrients for your terrarium. You will appreciate how it eliminates ammonia and odours, keeping your setup clean and healthy for both plants and any inhabitants.

What We Like
Ideal for bioactive terrariums
Contains live beneficial bacteria
Excellent drainage properties
Mineral-rich and porous
Eliminates ammonia and odours
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What substrate is best for a terrarium?

Sphagnum moss has become a true staple in the terrarium and vivarium industry (in both it's live and preserved form, but preserved is best for substrates). Just like coir, this wonder material is fantastic for terrariums thanks to its excellent water retention and its fluffy texture.

2. What is the best base material for the bottom of a terrarium?

Small Stones or Pebbles – Small stones or pebbles will be used as the base of your terrarium. The small pebbles act as water drainage for the plants' roots to ensure that excess water doesn't stay in the soil and cause rot.

3. What layers does a terrarium need?

A terrarium basically has 4 main layers. They are, in order from the ground up, the gravel, moss, soil and decorative layer.

4. What is terrarium substrate made of?

Layers of Terrarium Substrate There is a trend of creating very distinct layers of substrate in terrariums – usually something like: gravel, charcoal, maybe some sand, soil, sphagnum moss, then whatever plants and decorations you might need.

Editor's Notes

During our terrarium substrate research, we found 156 terrarium substrate products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 33,900 customer reviews through our big data system to write the terrarium substrate list. We found that most customers choose terrarium substrate with an average price of £10.94.

The terrarium substrate are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of terrarium substrate, including Exo Terra, Arcadia, Komodo, Swell Reptiles.

Written by
Chloe Foster Avatar

Happy Pet Happy Owner by Chloe Foster sold over 100 thousand copies in the UK. Chloe worked as a veterinarian in The Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Woodham. She stayed for seven years before coming home to set up her pet store in Swansea. Chloe is an experienced veterinarian with a flair for literature. Chloe is vast in the knowledge of animals, animal nutrition, medication, and care.