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Substrate Comparison - August 2025

5 Best Substrate In the UK

1
Best Choice
9.9Exceptional
2
9.8Exceptional
3
Best Value
9.7Exceptional
4
9.4Excellent
5
9.3Excellent
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Model

zoomed Zoo Med EE-8 Eco Earth Substrate Loose Pack, 8.8 Litres
Model
Pettex Reptile Substrate Tortoise Soil Bedding, 10 L
Model
Fluval Plant and Shrimp Stratum Aquarium Planting Substrate, Dark Brown, 2 kg (Pack of 1)
Model
Komodo Tropical Terrain Compact Brick, Natural Substrate for Woodland or Rainforest Habitats
Model
Exo Terra Plantation Soil Substrate, 8.8 Litre

Brand

Zoo Med
Brand
Pettex
Brand
Fluval
Brand
Komodo
Brand
Catit

Reviews

13,796 reviews
Reviews
8,780 reviews
Reviews
53,072 reviews
Reviews
2,872 reviews
Reviews
22,424 reviews

Features

Worth the money

9.4
Worth the money
9.1
Worth the money
8.9
Worth the money
8.9
Worth the money
8.4

Simple to clean

9.1
Simple to clean
9.3
Simple to clean
9.4
Simple to clean
8.1
Simple to clean
7.2

Absorbency

9.4
Absorbency
9.3
Absorbency
9.1
Absorbency
9.1
Absorbency
8.4

Simple to use

9.3
Simple to use
9.3
Simple to use
9.1
Simple to use
9.6
Simple to use
7.0

Tech Specs

quantity

1
quantity
1
quantity
1
quantity
1
quantity
1

item weight

1.2 kg
item weight
10.7 kg
item weight
2 kg
item weight
64 g
item weight
635 g

number of items

1
number of items
1
number of items
1
number of items
1
number of items
1

customer reviews

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 3, 449 ratings 4.7 out of 5 stars
customer reviews
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 2, 195 ratings 4.5 out of 5 stars
customer reviews
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 13, 268 ratings 4.6 out of 5 stars
customer reviews
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 718 ratings 4.5 out of 5 stars
customer reviews
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 5, 606 ratings 4.4 out of 5 stars

batteries required

No
batteries required
No
batteries required
No
batteries required
No
batteries required
No

product dimensions

44.45 x 24.89 x 12.19 cm 1.2 kg
product dimensions
-
product dimensions
7.62 x 15.24 x 27.94 cm 2 kg
product dimensions
10.5 x 10.5 x 16 cm 64 g
product dimensions
0.51 x 20.32 x 10.16 cm 635.03 g

batteries included

No
batteries included
-
batteries included
No
batteries included
No
batteries included
No

size

Loose Pack 8.8 Litres
size
-
size
2 kg Pack of 1
size
Standard
size
8.8 Litre

pet type

Reptiles
pet type
-
pet type
Fish
pet type
Amphibian
pet type
Reptile

specific uses

-
specific uses
Active
specific uses
Nutrition
specific uses
Active
specific uses
Behavior

pet life stage

-
pet life stage
All Life Stages
pet life stage
All Life Stages
pet life stage
All Life Stages
pet life stage
-

color

-
color
Tortoise Soil Bedding
color
dark brown
color
-
color
Brown

Available On

Available On
Available On
Available On
Available On

Our Top 3 Picks

Here are the top 3 recommended products with more information to help you find the right product for you
  • 9.9
    1
    Zoo Med

    zoomed Zoo Med EE-8 Eco Earth Substrate Loose Pack, 8.8 Litres

    9.4 worth the money
    9.4 Absorbency
    9.3 Simple to use
    Main highlights
    • reptiles substrate
    • natural coconut fi ber
    • ideal for all burrowing type animals like; box turtles, tropical tortoises, hermit crabs, salamanders, toads, frogs, tarantulas and invertebrates.
    • It naturally absorbs and breaks down odour and waste products
    • Increases humidity
    • Ideal for naturalistic terrarium type set ups
    • Create an ideal drainage layer for optimum plant growth, humidity and drainage in naturalistic terrariums
    • Can be safely composted or recycled into potted plants or gardens
    • An eco friendly product
    • 8,8 litres
  • 9.8
    2
    Pettex

    Pettex Reptile Substrate Tortoise Soil Bedding, 10 L

    9.3 Simple to clean
    9.3 Absorbency
    9.3 Simple to use

    Why we love it

    Great for a natural looking environment
    Absorbent and hygienic
    Absorbs waste and controls odors
  • 9.7
    3
    Fluval
    23% Off

    Fluval Plant and Shrimp Stratum Aquarium Planting Substrate, Dark Brown, 2 kg (Pack of 1)

    9.4 Simple to clean
    9.1 Absorbency
    9.1 Simple to use

    Why we love it

    Promotes healthy plant growth.
    Supports beneficial bacteria.
    Ideal for shrimp and fish.

Our ranking system

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Features

Our team of experts analyzes key attributes, capabilities, significance, and many more depending on the type of product to determine its effectiveness.
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Consumer Reviews

We ensure an evaluation of the ratings using references all over the internet for each product. With the help of our AI technology and professional review teams, we give weight to the worth of individual user experiences.
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Popularity

Popularity is an important criterion in choosing a product. Several factors contribute to the popularity of the products on our site, including prestige, relevance, reputation, news, and more.
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Value for money

TopChoice.co.uk compares product attributes to price, examines tech specs, ratings and reviews, and more.

When compared to other criteria, does the pricing seem reasonable? In order to provide genuine value for money, our team must answer that question with advanced calculations.