10 Best Turtle Substrates 2025: According to Reviews | Chewy

The 10 Best Turtle Substrates

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How we created this turtle substrate list

We leveraged input from our veterinarians and artificial intelligence to identify key considerations to help you find the best turtle substrate.
We scanned thousands of customer reviews and ratings and scored each product based on its performance against each of the key considerations. We then considered how popular a product is with Chewy customers and combined that with its key consideration scores to create the list of the best turtle substrates.

Key turtle substrate considerations

Absorbency

Durability

Non-toxic

Texture

1
Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Reptile Substrate, 3 count
Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Reptile Substrate, 3 count
Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Reptile Substrate, 3 count
Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Reptile Substrate, 3 count
Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Reptile Substrate, 3 count
Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Reptile Substrate, 3 count

Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Reptile Substrate, 3 count

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
387
$5.98Chewy Price
($2.00/ea)
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code HAVEFUN

Our ratings

Absorbency

4.8/5
Excellent

Durability

4.5/5
Great

Non-toxic

4.5/5
Great

Texture

4.7/5
Excellent

Is this turtle substrate right for my pet?

Litter & Bedding Type

Coconut Fiber
2
Zoo Med Forest Floor Natural Cypress Mulch Reptile Bedding, 24-qt bag
Zoo Med Forest Floor Natural Cypress Mulch Reptile Bedding, 24-qt bag
Zoo Med Forest Floor Natural Cypress Mulch Reptile Bedding, 24-qt bag
Zoo Med Forest Floor Natural Cypress Mulch Reptile Bedding, 24-qt bag
Zoo Med Forest Floor Natural Cypress Mulch Reptile Bedding, 24-qt bag
Zoo Med Forest Floor Natural Cypress Mulch Reptile Bedding, 24-qt bag

Zoo Med Forest Floor Natural Cypress Mulch Reptile Bedding, 24-qt bag

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
297
$24.98Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Absorbency

4.6/5
Excellent

Durability

4.7/5
Excellent

Non-toxic

4.6/5
Excellent

Texture

4.7/5
Excellent

Is this turtle substrate right for my pet?

Litter & Bedding Type

Cypress
3
Frisco Fir Bark Reptile Bedding, 24-qt
Frisco Fir Bark Reptile Bedding, 24-qt
Frisco Fir Bark Reptile Bedding, 24-qt
Frisco Fir Bark Reptile Bedding, 24-qt
Frisco Fir Bark Reptile Bedding, 24-qt

Frisco Fir Bark Reptile Bedding, 24-qt

Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars
28
$23.56Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Absorbency

4.6/5
Excellent

Durability

4.8/5
Excellent

Non-toxic

4.7/5
Excellent

Texture

4.7/5
Excellent

Is this turtle substrate right for my pet?

Material

Wood

Litter & Bedding Type

Douglas Fir
4
Aqua Terra Aquarium & Terrarium Sand, Natural Tan, 5-lb bag
Aqua Terra Aquarium & Terrarium Sand, Natural Tan, 5-lb bag

Aqua Terra Aquarium & Terrarium Sand, Natural Tan, 5-lb bag

Rated 4.1 out of 5 stars
188
$5.49Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Absorbency

4.2/5
Great

Durability

4.6/5
Excellent

Non-toxic

4.2/5
Great

Texture

4.5/5
Great

Is this turtle substrate right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Nano Tank, Pond, Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Cichlid, Goldfish...
5
Zoo Med Premium Repti Bark Natural Fir Reptile Bedding, 24-qt bag
Zoo Med Premium Repti Bark Natural Fir Reptile Bedding, 24-qt bag
Zoo Med Premium Repti Bark Natural Fir Reptile Bedding, 24-qt bag
Zoo Med Premium Repti Bark Natural Fir Reptile Bedding, 24-qt bag
Zoo Med Premium Repti Bark Natural Fir Reptile Bedding, 24-qt bag
Zoo Med Premium Repti Bark Natural Fir Reptile Bedding, 24-qt bag
Zoo Med Premium Repti Bark Natural Fir Reptile Bedding, 24-qt bag

Zoo Med Premium Repti Bark Natural Fir Reptile Bedding, 24-qt bag

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
257
$24.98Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Absorbency

4.6/5
Excellent

Durability

4.5/5
Great

Non-toxic

4.4/5
Great

Texture

4.6/5
Excellent

Is this turtle substrate right for my pet?

Litter & Bedding Type

Douglas Fir
6
Zilla Terrarium Liner, Green, 40/50-gal
Zilla Terrarium Liner, Green, 40/50-gal
Zilla Terrarium Liner, Green, 40/50-gal
Zilla Terrarium Liner, Green, 40/50-gal
Zilla Terrarium Liner, Green, 40/50-gal
Zilla Terrarium Liner, Green, 40/50-gal
Zilla Terrarium Liner, Green, 40/50-gal
Zilla Terrarium Liner, Green, 40/50-gal
Zilla Terrarium Liner, Green, 40/50-gal

Zilla Terrarium Liner, Green, 40/50-gal

Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars
101
$12.45Chewy Price
($12.45/ea)
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code HAVEFUN

Our ratings

Absorbency

4.7/5
Excellent

Durability

4.8/5
Excellent

Non-toxic

4.8/5
Excellent

Texture

4.7/5
Excellent
7
Zoo Med ReptiSoil Reptile Soil, 10-qt bag
Zoo Med ReptiSoil Reptile Soil, 10-qt bag
Zoo Med ReptiSoil Reptile Soil, 10-qt bag
Zoo Med ReptiSoil Reptile Soil, 10-qt bag

Zoo Med ReptiSoil Reptile Soil, 10-qt bag

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
160
$8.98Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Absorbency

4.5/5
Great

Durability

4.5/5
Great

Non-toxic

4.6/5
Excellent

Texture

4.5/5
Great
8
Galapagos Sphagnum Reptile, Amphibian & Insect Terrarium Moss, Fresh Green, 4-qt bag
Galapagos Sphagnum Reptile, Amphibian & Insect Terrarium Moss, Fresh Green, 4-qt bag
Galapagos Sphagnum Reptile, Amphibian & Insect Terrarium Moss, Fresh Green, 4-qt bag
Galapagos Sphagnum Reptile, Amphibian & Insect Terrarium Moss, Fresh Green, 4-qt bag
Galapagos Sphagnum Reptile, Amphibian & Insect Terrarium Moss, Fresh Green, 4-qt bag
Galapagos Sphagnum Reptile, Amphibian & Insect Terrarium Moss, Fresh Green, 4-qt bag

Galapagos Sphagnum Reptile, Amphibian & Insect Terrarium Moss, Fresh Green, 4-qt bag

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
105
$11.99Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Absorbency

4.4/5
Great

Durability

4.1/5
Great

Non-toxic

4.0/5
Great

Texture

4.4/5
Great

Is this turtle substrate right for my pet?

Litter & Bedding Type

Moss
9
Zoo Med Eco Earth Loose Coconut Fiber Reptile Substrate, 24-qt bag
Zoo Med Eco Earth Loose Coconut Fiber Reptile Substrate, 24-qt bag
Zoo Med Eco Earth Loose Coconut Fiber Reptile Substrate, 24-qt bag
Zoo Med Eco Earth Loose Coconut Fiber Reptile Substrate, 24-qt bag

Zoo Med Eco Earth Loose Coconut Fiber Reptile Substrate, 24-qt bag

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
298
$22.98Chewy Price
Promo, Spend $100, Get $30 eGift Card with code HAVEFUN

Our ratings

Absorbency

4.6/5
Excellent

Durability

4.7/5
Excellent

Non-toxic

4.5/5
Great

Texture

4.7/5
Excellent

Is this turtle substrate right for my pet?

Litter & Bedding Type

Coconut Fiber
10
Frisco Terrarium Sphagnum Moss Reptile Bedding, 4-qt
Frisco Terrarium Sphagnum Moss Reptile Bedding, 4-qt
Frisco Terrarium Sphagnum Moss Reptile Bedding, 4-qt
Frisco Terrarium Sphagnum Moss Reptile Bedding, 4-qt
Frisco Terrarium Sphagnum Moss Reptile Bedding, 4-qt

Frisco Terrarium Sphagnum Moss Reptile Bedding, 4-qt

Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars
45
$9.44Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Absorbency

4.7/5
Excellent

Durability

4.6/5
Excellent

Non-toxic

4.6/5
Excellent

Texture

4.5/5
Great

Is this turtle substrate right for my pet?

Material

Plant Material

Litter & Bedding Type

Moss