Has anyone used the Zoo Med Excavator substrate? I'm thinking of trying it, but I would love a review before I dish out the funds. Any Help? Sorry if I already missed it.

I haven't used it but i've heard some people on the site talking about it...hopefully someone comes along and can give you a review.

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I've looked into it before and it seems like a great product. The big drawback for me is most burrowing reptiles would need a lot of it. So at $8 - $12 a back for a 5 lb bag it costs a small fortune to do even a 36 x 18 tank. Since you need at least 4 inches so they can dig in it.

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Mike
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I haven't used this product but have used some like it. Now I perfer to mix my own sand/clay mixes. This type of substrate is ideal for burrowing spp. but you could do the same for a third of the price for the needed amount. one down side is it is very heavy (more so than pure sand as it compacts very well).

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What are some mixtures you use? Type of clay and sand/clay ratrios?

I've used it. For the amount you get for the price, I don't say it's worth it. It creates like a rock hard mortar mix. It was a pain to take back out of the tank when I changed it. I like the idea, but to me its just way to hard for any reptiles I have. When I took it out I had to let it set for an hour so the darn stuff would sort of soften up enough for me to remove.

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I use normal leim clay mixed to at about 1/4 per weight so (5 pounds for every 25 of sand) you can use really any sand you like fine sands seem to work best. I've also used fine crushed granit or quartz sand. I can get really hard another reason I like to mix my own so it's a bit looser and eazier to work with.

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Thanks alot! I'm gonna give it a try.

Can you mix this Excavator with, say, 1 or 2 parts sand? Or would this cause the substrate to be too unstable?

It would depend on how much you mixed with it. Also if you maintain a level of moisture in the substrate it will facilitate burrows.

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Mike
"Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you." - Mother Teresa