To see product details, add this item to your cart. You can always remove it later.
FREE Returns
Added to

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.
Other Sellers on Amazon
Added
Sold by: Smartzoomart
Sold by: Smartzoomart
(7734 ratings)
100% positive over last 12 months
Shipping rates and Return policy
Added
Sold by: Central Pet Smart
Sold by: Central Pet Smart
(129 ratings)
60% positive over last 12 months
Shipping rates and Return policy

Zoo Med Excavator Clay Burrowing Substrate, 10 Pounds

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,464 ratings

To see product details, add this item to your cart. You can always remove it later.
FREE Returns
Available at a lower price from other sellers that may not offer free Prime shipping.

Purchase options and add-ons

  • Holds its shape so tunnels won't collapse
  • All natural, no dyes or chemicals
  • Make your reptiles feel like they are at home" in their natural habitat"

Customer ratings by feature

Easy to use
4.2 4.2
Value for money
4.0 4.0
Easy to clean
3.8 3.8

Frequently bought together

$24.89
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2
Only 3 left in stock - order soon.
Sold by R T S and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
+
$8.99 ($0.02/Ounce)
Get it Apr 4 - 5
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Petco.
+
$16.12
Only 3 left in stock - order soon.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Choose items to buy together.

From the manufacturer

Excavator Clay Burrowing Substrate

A clay substrate that can be formed to your liking, while still allowing reptiles to dig tunnels and burrows just like they do in nature. Watch your reptiles perform natural digging behaviors; mold and create multi-level terraces and burrows in your reptile’s terrarium. Excavator holds its shape so burrows and tunnels won’t collapse. All Natural! No added dyes, colors, or chemicals.

Looking for specific info?

Product Description

Check out Zoo Meds new Excavatorâ„¢ Clay Burrowing Substrate. It allows reptiles to dig tunnels and burrows just like they do in nature. Watch your reptiles perform natural digging behaviors; mold and create multi-level terraces and burrows in your reptiles terrarium Make your reptiles feel like they are at home" in their natural habitat. Excavatorâ„¢ holds its shape so burrows and tunnels wont collapse All Natural. No added dyes colors or chemicals."

Product details

  • Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
  • Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 20 x 8 x 4 inches; 10.01 Pounds
  • Item model number ‏ : ‎ XR10
  • Date First Available ‏ : ‎ January 1, 2005
  • Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Zoo Med Laboratories
  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000N5OM8S
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,464 ratings

Compare with similar items

This Item
Zoo Med Excavator Clay Burrowing Substrate, 10 Pounds
Zoo Med Excavator Clay Burrowing Substrate, 10 Pounds
Recommendations
Jurassic Natural Australian Desert Dragon Habitat 10lb Substrate for Bearded Dragons and Other Lizards
dummy
JurassicNatural Australian Desert Dragon Habitat 20lb Substrate for Bearded Dragons and Other Lizards, Red (DESERT020)
dummy
Josh's Frogs BioBedding Desert Bioactive Substrate (10 quarts)
dummy
Josh's Frogs BioBedding Desert Bioactive Substrate (4 quarts)
dummy
Zoo Med 26406 Laboratories 690108 Excavator Clay Burrowing Substrate, 20 lb
Details
Added to Cart
Details
Added to Cart
Details
Added to Cart
Details
Added to Cart
Details
Added to Cart
Details
Added to Cart
Price$24.89$16.12$49.99$39.99$24.99$42.96
Delivery
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2
Get it Apr 4 - 10
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2
Get it as soon as Tuesday, Apr 2
Customer Ratings
Value for money
4.0
4.4
4.5
4.2
4.2
4.4
Easy to clean
3.8
4.5
4.5
4.8
4.8
4.1
Easy to use
4.2
4.6
4.1
Scent
4.6
5.0
5.0
Sold By
R T S
Amazon.com
PayWut
Josh's Frogs
Josh's Frogs
Acentus eCommerce

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
1,464 global ratings

Customers say

Customers like the quality, appearance and ease of use of the pet supplies. For example, they mention it works well for making burrows, looks natural and is great for creating a natural landscape. Some are happy with ease of construction, and versatility. That said, opinions are mixed on messiness and value.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

44 customers mention40 positive4 negative

Customers are satisfied with the quality of the pet supplies. They mention that it works well for diggers, and is great for making burrows. Some say that it takes several days to dry, but is well worth the time and effort.

"I was hesitant about buying this, but it works really well...." Read more

"...mixture will not be able to form tall structures, But will hold Burrows extremely well and will be easier for reptiles to dig in...." Read more

"good stuff" Read more

"This is great for building caves and such. It dries hard so I don't feel it's in danger of falling in on my dragon...." Read more

31 customers mention31 positive0 negative

Customers are satisfied with the appearance of the substrate. They mention that it looks very natural, and is solid as a rock. Some say that it works great for creating a natural landscape and a rocky desert appearance. Overall, customers are happy with the product's appearance and recommend it as s substrate for a naturally setup.

"The sand is really nice and would probably work well for larger reptiles . But it is advertised as safe for leopard geckos when it really isn’t ...." Read more

"I love this product! It is great for creating a natural landscape, lets your reptiles dig safely and can't be ingested easily...." Read more

"...Gives my tanks an awesome natural look without having to use loose sub-straight." Read more

"...It also mimics natural terrain for various desert species, where the ground is solid and dry...." Read more

28 customers mention20 positive8 negative

Customers find the pet supplies easy to use. They mention it's simple, fun, and convenient. Some say it'll take days to dry, but it'd be easy to build arches and hideouts.

"Love it. Easy to thicken and prepare but I recommend you buy one bag more. One 10lb bag will spread along a 20 gallon but no bigger tank!...." Read more

"...how much water you used or you be stock waiting for days to dry,easy to build IF only IF your crafty 😆😂 other wise is a nightmare .I didn't like the..." Read more

"Messy but easy enough to use. Our beardie is happy so we’re happy 😊..." Read more

"...It wasn't very easy to use- your hands will get dirty. I don't think she will be able to burrow because of the firmness...." Read more

14 customers mention14 positive0 negative

Customers find the pet supplies easy to assemble. They mention it's great fun to make, perfect for leopard geckos and bearded dragons. Customers also say it'll be fun to create a landscape for their pets and that their pets seem to enjoy exploring.

"...plus about 3 days to dry but Peepers is much more active and seems to enjoy exploring...." Read more

"I love excavator clay for several of my different reptile species. Fun to build and beardies love digging in their own in it...." Read more

"Great Product. Made a fun space for my sons bearded dragon...." Read more

"Easy to use and fun to work with! This clay provided the perfect look of the natural habitat I was going for." Read more

14 customers mention14 positive0 negative

Customers like the versatility of the pet supplies. They mention that it's great for reptiles, perfect for reptilian diggers, and a naturalistic terrarium. It's also the best substrate for collared lizards and highly recommended for a home habitat. Customers also say the materials creates a wonderful environment for russian tortoises, leopard geckos, and bearde geckos.

"I am so happy with this. It turned out wonderful for my lizards it still has to dry but I know it’s going to turn out wonderful...." Read more

"This clay is wonderful for my beardie. I had to add a little more water than what the instructions advised...." Read more

"Fun to customize your tank" Read more

"...Highly recommended for a natural habitat." Read more

17 customers mention11 positive6 negative

Customers are mixed about the messiness of the pet supplies. Some mention it's easy to clean and reusable, while others say that it'll get their hands dirty.

"...He loves his hideouts and sitting on top of them. It is so much easier to clean and less expensive...." Read more

"...It wasn't very easy to use- your hands will get dirty. I don't think she will be able to burrow because of the firmness...." Read more

"...I spot clean often and the clay stays very clean for the most part...." Read more

"Messy but easy enough to use. Our beardie is happy so we’re happy 😊..." Read more

14 customers mention8 positive6 negative

Customers are mixed about the value of the pet supplies. Some mention it's a fantastic price, while others say it'll be a big waste of money and not worth the hassle.

"...This is also the best price I have found for the excavation clay. So thank you so much!" Read more

"...well enough for right now, but I am sad to say I am disappointed with the overall product...." Read more

"...It is so much easier to clean and less expensive. And you can reshape and remold the hideoute by just adding water to soften it up." Read more

"...I have to get it out asap and find another substrate asap. Waste of time, energy, and money. Might work for other animals...." Read more

22 customers mention5 positive17 negative

Customers are dissatisfied with the durability of the pet supplies. They mention that it cracks and crumbles like no other, the bridges/arch ways would crumble, and the clay may crack as it shrinks. Some customers also report that the bag was punctured and the product didn't hold up.

"...While drying, the clay may crack as it shrinks, just re-wet the cracks and rub smooth...." Read more

"...It's really dusty and it cracks and crumbles. It stinks when it gets wet from misting...." Read more

"...It’s great quality and very durable." Read more

"...much more, it was a lot easier to work with; however, when it dried, it cracked and crumbled like no other...." Read more

I bought for burrowing snake
4 Stars
I bought for burrowing snake
I bought the excavator clay because it is safer to use with a Mexican black kingsnake (desert snake that likes to burrow) than sand. Sand (which is want I wanted originally) is really bad for them due to impaction. I honestly don't think she is a fan because is it very hard and fairly dense, so I did a half and half tank. It wasn't very easy to use- your hands will get dirty. I don't think she will be able to burrow because of the firmness. I did build a clay hut out of it.Probably great for lizards and guys that can actually dig. Probably skip if you want your snake to burrow in it because it is very dense. Other than that. I like the look which is what I was really going for.To the right is the clay while it was freshly wet from putting it in and in the corner is the clay hut. The left is Terra Sahara from biodude for her bioactive enclosure.I'd say it's worth it
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2017
Customer image
5.0 out of 5 stars Must use for any naturalistic arid reptile enclosure!
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2017
Must use for any naturalistic arid reptile enclosure and is my Recommendation for Leopard Geckos, Bearded Dragons, and Uromastyx. It can be used by itself or mixed with soil for a more natural and soft substrate. Excavator clay holds tunnels extremely well, while allowing reptiles to act on natural digging instincts. There is little risk for impaction or accidentally being ingested with this clay as it is compacted and has very little loose grains once wet and dried. As for cleaning, Most Arid Reptiles have a drier stool that will sit on top of the substrate and can be simply picked up with a paper towel. If the "used" area begins to smell, Simply scoop up the clay in that spot and replace. (I always save a little dry clay for this reason)

To heat from below
For reptiles that require heat from below, This can be achieved with a little creative land planning. The spot that has belly heat needs to be between 1/8th and 1/4th in thick for enough heat to penetrate. This actually works better than Repticarpet or tile as the heat is evenly distributed and retained for longer. In the attached pictures, the right half has heat on an "on/off" thermostat and is able to maintain floor heat at 88-92 Degrees at all times.

To use by itself
Carefully empty into enclosure, go slow to avoid dust. Wet clay just enough to form caverns and hills, I feel it works best when combined with Driftwood, Slate, Stone or Cork bark to create better climbing opportunities and help build up hills. While drying, the clay may crack as it shrinks, just re-wet the cracks and rub smooth. To Redecorate or fix crumbling, just soak the area with a reptile safe spray bottle, and reform.

To create a more naturalistic soil
Combine equal parts Excavator clay and organic topsoil and moisten. Be sure there are no Fertilizers, Natural or otherwise in the soil. This mixture will not be able to form tall structures, But will hold Burrows extremely well and will be easier for reptiles to dig in.

As with any Pet product PLEASE research thoroughly the needs of that specific animal before Purchasing.
Images in this review
Customer image Customer image
Customer imageCustomer image
79 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2016
3 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2024
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2023
Customer image
4.0 out of 5 stars I bought for burrowing snake
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2023
I bought the excavator clay because it is safer to use with a Mexican black kingsnake (desert snake that likes to burrow) than sand. Sand (which is want I wanted originally) is really bad for them due to impaction. I honestly don't think she is a fan because is it very hard and fairly dense, so I did a half and half tank. It wasn't very easy to use- your hands will get dirty. I don't think she will be able to burrow because of the firmness. I did build a clay hut out of it.

Probably great for lizards and guys that can actually dig. Probably skip if you want your snake to burrow in it because it is very dense. Other than that. I like the look which is what I was really going for.
To the right is the clay while it was freshly wet from putting it in and in the corner is the clay hut. The left is Terra Sahara from biodude for her bioactive enclosure.

I'd say it's worth it
Images in this review
Customer image
Customer image
5 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2021
30 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2017
7 people found this helpful
Report
Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2024

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Celia Oliveira
5.0 out of 5 stars Bom
Reviewed in Spain on March 23, 2024
Derdgg
5.0 out of 5 stars Le meilleur produit que j'ai vu dans ma vie
Reviewed in France on March 7, 2024
Giacomo
5.0 out of 5 stars Ok
Reviewed in Italy on October 31, 2023
Amazon Kunde
5.0 out of 5 stars Gute Qualität schnelle Lieferung alles super
Reviewed in Germany on October 5, 2023
CB
5.0 out of 5 stars Great addition to terrarium
Reviewed in Canada on August 24, 2020
One person found this helpful
Report