Looking for ways to make your pet beardies feel more like home? We know exactly what your home terrariums are missing.
The answer lies in getting the best bearded dragon substrate.
Finding a good dragon substrate to create natural terrarium bedding can be such a struggle. But we’ve heard only good things about ZooMed Desert White ReptiSand and we agree with all that positive feedback.
Your bearded dragon has every right to be picky. But fret not. Because we have got eight different dragon substrates for you to check out.
Let’s dive in!
Our Top 8 Best Substrate at a glance
- Zoo Med Desert White ReptiSand
- Zilla Reptile Pet Floor Liners
- Exo Terra Desert Sand
- Zoo Med Reptile Bark
- Jurassic Natural Australian Desert Habitat
- Fluker Lab’s 36005 Repta-Bark Bedding
- ReptiCasa Compressed Coconut Fiber Substrate
- Zoo Med Cavern Kit with Excavator Clay Substrate
8 Best Bearded Dragon Substrate
We understand that every pet is different and that not all bearded dragons love the same things. If one likes to dwell in the textured sand, the other might like crawling on soft carpet flooring.
So, we have found the eight best bearded dragon substrate options for you to try on.
1. Zoo Med Desert White ReptiSand
Best Overall
Zoo Med Desert White ReptiSand makes a perfect dragon substrate for your home terrariums. You get a total of 10 pounds of substrate material that you can easily spread around the square area of your dragon’s enclosure.
The desert sand is sourced from the natural habitat to give your bearded dragon an attractive home environment. Plus, it promotes healthy exploring behavior in your pet reptiles, which keeps them active.
The sand substrate acts as an effective heat conductor that evenly distributes the temperature across the terrarium. It has no added chemicals or dyes to keep your beardies healthy and happy.
Pros
- Creates a naturalistic desert environment for the reptile terrarium.
- Conducts heat and spreads it evenly across the place.
- Safe with no harmful chemicals.
- Great substrate for bearded dragons.
Cons
- Tough to clean.
- Gets stuck to everything inside, even your pet.
2. Zilla Reptile Pet Floor Liners
Best sand alternative
Zilla Reptile Pet Floor Liners are one of the best sand alternatives that you can get for your bearded dragons. The floor liners make an exceptional sand substitute with no scattering or dirt.
The Zilla Floor Liner in question is available in a size of 17.25 x 35.25 inches. You can spread it flat within your whole pet enclosure or cover multiple terrarium floors. It is very low maintenance and customizable. You can cut it accordingly to achieve the perfect fit.
The carpet-like floor liner is made from recycled materials that absorb bad pet odors. The non-abrasive material can’t be digested, so it’s perfectly suited for juvenile bearded dragons that may accidentally ingest the bedding.
Pros
- Keeps your beardies healthy and safe.
- Can easily be cut to fit your pet terrarium.
- Not filled with any sharp or pointed objects.
- Safe for all small pet reptiles.
Cons
- Traps your beardies by the nails.
- Becomes hairy soon.
3. Exo Terra Desert Sand
The Cleanest Sand Substrate
Exo Terra’s Black Desert Terrarium Sand is an excellent choice as your bearded dragon substrate. It gives your pet’s home a nice naturalistic appearance of a desert environment.
The desert sand is obtained from the natural desert areas and has no added dyes or chemicals. So, it’s a pretty authentic and safe material to be used in your terrariums.
Plus, the sand is thoroughly sifted to remove any pointed or sharp objects or any other harmful impurities. You get 10 pounds of homogenous sand mixture that is perfect for your bearded dragons.
The white desert sand makes a pretty decent substrate, even for the egg-laying pet reptiles. So, fill up your terrariums with suitable sand substrate and give your pets comfortable bedding.
Pros
- Gives an attractive desert environment to your terrariums.
- Stimulates digging and exploration behavior.
- No mites, bugs, or other insects.
- Suitable for egg-laying reptile pets.
Cons
- Very difficult to clean.
- Gets clumped up when wet.
4. Zoo Med Reptile Bark
Perfect for reptiles in humid conditions
ZooMed Reptile Fir Bark Bedding is another one of the best bearded dragon substrates that you can get for your home terrariums. Decorate your dragon enclosure by spreading the substrate inside the space.
You get 8 quarts of all-natural bedding that’s made from the bark of fir trees. It’s known to be perfect for creating terrarium bedding because of its absorptive nature.
The bedding is very hygroscopic and pretty absorbent. So, it absorbs all the heat, moisture, and bad odors from the terrariums. In return, it gives your reptile a nice home-like environment by balancing the atmospheric humidity. Beardies love living in a nice, fresh environment.
The natural substrate mixture is capable of evenly distributing heat across the space. Plus, it effectively pulls away all the icky waste materials from your pets. Your beardies feel comfortable and enjoy a natural digging and burrowing activity happily in their terrariums.
Pros
- Green product.
- Lasts up to one year.
- Absorbent.
Cons
- Might get infected with mites and fleas.
- Hard to clean.
5. Jurassic Natural Australian Desert Habitat
Best Ethically Sourced Bearded Dragon Substrate
The perfect fit for your little Australian friend, Jurassic Natural Desert Sand is a valuable substrate option. You get 10 pounds of Australian sand mix for your desert-dwelling bearded dragons.
It is obtained originally from the central Australian land, and you simply can’t find its comparison. It creates the ultimate natural environment for your Australian beardies within the confines of their home terrariums.
With its supportive consistency, the material can be easily spread through the corners of your terrariums without much effort. It’s great for introducing your beardies to digging techniques.
Additionally, the sand substrate is perfectly safe with no additives. You can further decorate it with rocks and pebbles. Enriched with a healthy home environment, your dragon will feel more active and refreshed living in its enclosure.
Pros
- Creates a nice natural desert-like environment.
- Promotes healthy exploration behavior.
- Spreads evenly across the area.
- Most suitable for Australian reptiles.
Cons
- Sticks inside the tank.
- Very hard to clean.
6. Fluker Lab’s 36005 Repta-Bark Bedding
Best Substrate for High Humidity Tanks!
Fluker Lab’s All Natural Repta-Bark Bedding is just what you need if you have a very picky pet bearded dragon.
Beardies usually get very picky and irritable if they don’t get enough humidity. This natural and rugged bark substrate is sourced from orchid trees that can survive in high humidity.
It effectively pulls the high heating temperatures away while giving off fresh, humid air. Your beardies will love it instantly. The material itself is available as big chunks of bark that are not easily digestible and stay less dusty.
So, the 100% natural Repta-Bark substrate is pretty safe for your reptile’s terrarium. Plus, you don’t have to clean it often as it takes too much time to clean the whole enclosure.
Pros
- Prevents excessive moisture.
- Absorbs organic waste.
- Forms natural bedding for your pets.
- Prevents fungal skin infections.
Cons
- Rough and pointy texture.
- Might be infested with bugs.
7. ReptiCasa Compressed Coconut Fiber Substrate
Best Environmental-friendly Bearded Dragon Substrate!
ReptiCasa Compressed Coconut Fiber Substrate is an excellent choice for creating your terrarium bedding. It’s very absorptive and made with excellent heat conducting materials that create a nice humid environment.
The 10 pounds of natural husk bedding material is organic with high expansion property. So, it uniformly spreads inside your home terrariums, forming a nice layer sitting comfortably atop the terrarium floor.
The substrate is a great compostable option that can easily absorb all the foul odor and dirty pet waste. So, your terrariums stay cleaner than ever and look pretty great all the time. Plus, it stimulates natural digging and burrowing behaviors in your small pets.
The biodegradable, eco-friendly coconut husk fiber is easy to dispose of without harming the environment. So, whenever you decide to refresh the bedding, you can be sure to not pollute the atmosphere.
Pros
- Healthy and safe for pet reptiles.
- Absorbs waste and bad odor.
- Easy to dispose of.
- Conducts heat and keeps humidity.
Cons
- Takes too much time to prepare.
- Catches bugs and insects.
8. Zoo Med Cavern Kit with Excavator Clay Substrate
Best Naturalistic Substrate For Your Beardies!
Last but not least, the Zoo Med Cavern Kit Reptile Substrate is another great idea to make your home terrarium fancy. With a clay substrate, you can create a nice, homeier habitat for your desert-dwelling friend.
With this clay substrate, you can make your burrowing reptiles feel pretty happy and safe. Introduce healthy exploration behavior in your bearded dragons by creating various tunnels, caverns, and hideouts.
The Cavern kit comes with multiple accessories including a special mixing bag, various creativity tools, and an easy installation guide to help you out through the setting process.
You can be as creative as you want, using your imagination. Create several different hideouts and make your dragon terrariums look more alive than ever. Provide your beardies with the best substrate, covered with multiple nooks and corners.
Pros
- Gives your pet a homier habitat for living.
- Very easy to spread and adjust.
- Cavern and tunnels for inducing exploration behavior.
- Promotes digging and burrowing in reptiles.
Cons
- Stays wet forever.
- Not enough material to build a cavern.
What To Look For When Choosing The Best Bearded Dragon Substrate— Buying Guide
The market is full of bedding options and brands just waiting to be explored. It gets pretty overwhelming to find the best bearded dragon substrate.
Therefore, we have created a quick substrate guide to help you find the right fit for your beardies.
Just make sure your choice of substrate is:
Naturally Sourced
The sand substrate should be naturally sourced without added chemicals or dyes or any other sharp or pointy materials like splinters.
Absorbent
The substrate must absorb the bad odors of your pet’s poot and other dirt or waste materials so the terrariums don’t stink.
Humid
The substrate must keep the environment rich in humidity so your beardies feel at home.
Heat Conductor
The substrate must be a good heat conductor so it can evenly distribute the temperature across the terrarium space.
Easy To Clean
The bedding must be easy to clean. Make sure it does not get clumped in the corners of your home terrariums.
Conclusion
We hope you’ve gotten everything you wanted to know about dragon substrates. Finding the best bearded dragon substrate is no longer a problem if you have this detailed guide saved on your phone.
If you haven’t already chosen your favorite substrate from the list, go with Zoo Med ReptiSand. It gives the best value for money! If you want white sand, you can also go for Exo Terra Black Desert Sand for bearded dragon enclosures.
Zilla Reptile Pet Floor Liner for Dragon Terrariums is also a great alternative for those who like carpets more than sand substrates.
Don’t forget to share your thoughts and tell us your beardy’s reaction to the new bedding.
