Zoo Med Eco Earth Loose Coconut Fiber Substrate

We have a leopard gecko in a 20 gallon enclosure with a number of hides and items for stimulation. After a lot of research we have settled on using this substrate as it is natural and very gentle on our little reptile. The material is easy to pour out and doesn't create clouds of dust. It is also easy to scoop for maintenance between heavy cleanings. This bags is about 3 times the quantity of what we were previously buying locally for about 2/3 the price - basically we get a bag free! Strongly recommend this substrate for reptiles and this larger bag for the economics!

Can’t go wrong buying this

So I filled half my crabitat with this and with a pack of the yellow zoo med sand.I'm sure my ratio is wrong and it was not enough for my 40 gallon tank so I mixed it, added salt water using instant ocean (2 tablespoons per quart of spring water) until I had a sand castle like (more or less) consistency. I then pushed it up into a corner so it would be deep enough for my crab to burrow. Prior to this My poor hermit crab which I purchased in a mall had been living in dry sand in a tiny plastic container for 1 year. With no salt water and 50% humidity. He was always curled up and rarely came out of his shell. Anyway, I added holders for both salt and fresh water and a cover to maintain 75% humidity and 75 degrees F. I also bought the Zoomed tank heater and placed it above the soil at sand level. So, with all this prepared, I transferred the hermit crab to his new home. He was thrilled, and immediately began exploring, took multiple dips in the salt water and then a few days later burrowed out of sight and did not surface for close to 3 weeks. He was molting. Once he was out, I noticed him very active, not only at night. I also noticed that even though my home is 80 degrees, if I plug in the heater, he will hang out near it and even lean on the glass. I added some more crabs and they also like congregating around the heater. So, over the summer I caught a hermit crab by the beach in Coney Island. he was cute, really fast, but he was an ocean crab so I released him. Anyway, it got me thinking, so a few days ago I picked up a bucket and scooped up about 25 pounds of wet sand near the shore a few inched from where the waves were coming in. I used that to fill the other half of the tank. I then removed a crab that had recently burrowed under the coconut fiber (I do not advise that anyone disturb their crabs but I really thought this guy was trapped, I could see him from the glass at the bottom of the tank and carefully dug him out) and placed him on top of the new sand. Well, within a day he went back to the coconut fiber and burrowed down underneath the same spot. So, I will probably buy more coconut fiber and mix it in with the sand from the beach. Good luck and take care of your crabs.

Great price, great product.

The media could not be loaded. This is my first time using loose coco substrate and I found it a million times better than the coco bricks I used to buy from Exo Terra. I love that I can just pour it in without the mess and hassle of soaking and breaking apart the bricks. What makes this especially great for frogs is there is not a ridiculous amount of coco string in it. The large amounts of coco string from the bricks would stick to my frogs sticky skin so badly, they looked like they had little fur coats on. I would have to separate out a lot of the string so they wouldn't constantly be covered in it, but with this there is just the right amount of coco string in it. It is very soft with no random sharp chunks like I've found previously with the bricks, which saves me the trouble of hand picking out the chunks so my toads can burrow safely. The only con I see so far is the bag is not resealable so if you're planning on keeping this for multiple changes keep in mind you'll have to tape it closed.

The Zoo Med Eco Earth Loose Coconut Fiber Substrate (24 qts) is an excellent, versatile option for creating a natural, comfortable environment for reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals. I’ve been using this substrate for my ball python, and it works wonderfully in terms of maintaining humidity and providing a soft, burrow-friendly surface.One of the biggest strengths of this substrate is its moisture retention. It keeps the humidity levels in my ball python’s enclosure just right, which is essential for shedding and overall health. The material is soft and safe, and it’s easy to spot clean or replace as needed. Plus, being made from renewable coconut husks, it’s eco-friendly and compostable, which I really appreciate.The 24-quart bag offers great value for the price, providing plenty of substrate to fill even larger enclosures. It’s also free of harmful chemicals, so I feel confident that my snake is living in a safe and non-toxic environment.However, one issue I’ve noticed is that the loose coconut fiber tends to stick to my ball python’s prey items, like rats, during feeding. This can be a bit of a hassle, as I want to avoid the risk of ingestion. To work around this, I’ve started feeding my snake outside the enclosure, which solves the problem but adds an extra step.Overall, despite this minor drawback, the Eco Earth substrate is a high-quality, natural option that I’d recommend to anyone looking for a reliable substrate.

Natural is easy to break up and smells good. The geckos seem to like it. I think it is moist enough they can dig and climb in it well.

No complaints, is exactly what it says it is. You have to pack it down depending on what your keeping. It's lightweight m, I never developed any bugs from it. It's prone to mold growth of kept too damp.