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
410
$7.09Chewy Price
($2.37/ea)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Absorbency

4.7/5
Excellent

Durability

4.4/5
Great

Non-toxic

4.4/5
Great

Texture

4.6/5
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
307
$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 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
50
$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

4.5/5
Great

Texture

4.5/5
Great

Is this turtle substrate right for my pet?

Material

Plant Material

Litter & Bedding Type

Moss
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
195
$5.49Chewy Price
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Absorbency

4.2/5
Great

Durability

4.5/5
Great

Non-toxic

4.2/5
Great

Texture

4.4/5
Great

Is this turtle substrate right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Nano Tank, Pond, Freshwater, Saltwater

Fish Type

Tropical Freshwater, Betta, Cichlid, Goldfish...
5
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
103
$12.45Chewy Price
($12.45/ea)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Absorbency

4.8/5
Excellent

Durability

4.9/5
Excellent

Non-toxic

4.8/5
Excellent

Texture

4.8/5
Excellent
6
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
189
$8.99Chewy 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

4.6/5
Excellent

Texture

4.5/5
Great
7
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
276
$24.99Chewy 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

4.5/5
Great

Texture

4.6/5
Excellent

Is this turtle substrate right for my pet?

Litter & Bedding Type

Douglas Fir
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
112
$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

4.1/5
Great

Texture

4.4/5
Great

Is this turtle substrate right for my pet?

Litter & Bedding Type

Moss
9
CaribSea Reptile Calcium Substrate, Aztec Gold, 20-lb bag
CaribSea Reptile Calcium Substrate, Aztec Gold, 20-lb bag

CaribSea Reptile Calcium Substrate, Aztec Gold, 20-lb bag

Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars
53
$15.96Chewy Price
($0.80/lb)
Promo, New Customers Only: Spend $49+, Get $20 eGift Card

Our ratings

Absorbency

4.7/5
Excellent

Durability

4.8/5
Excellent

Non-toxic

4.7/5
Excellent

Texture

4.8/5
Excellent

Is this turtle substrate right for my pet?

Aquarium Type

Freshwater

Litter & Bedding Type

Sand
10
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 4.8 out of 5 stars
29
$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