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Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Substrate

Brick of compressed coconut fiberExpands to make seven to eight liters of substrate per brickNaturally absorbs and breaks down odor and waste productsIdeal substrate for burrowing animalsPerfect for all types of reptiles, amphibians, small animals, or insects
Average Customer Rating:
4.62 out of 5
4.6
 out of 
5
(32 Reviews)
29 of 32(91%)customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Substrate
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
(based on 32 reviews)
Written By: Clifford
Humidity Saver!!!
Date: October 14, 2009
"I live in eastern Colorado and to keep optimal humidity in my boa’s cage has always been a challenge till I used this product. This stuff holds humidity unbelievably well and I recommend it to any one having problems holding humidity in their snakes or frogs enclosures. Very happy about Eco Earth :)"
Review 2 for Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Substrate
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
(based on 32 reviews)
Written By: Kerrianne
I swear by this stuff
Date: October 11, 2009
"Eco Earth is the only substrate I use for my hermit crabs. I could not find it in any store in my area so I ordered it off Petco.com and for a great price. I'll keep ordering it each time I need it because it's the only substrate I'll ever use. It naturally breaks down waste and the used dirt can be used in our garden. Nothing goes to waste and we recycle it with ease."
Review 3 for Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Substrate
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
(based on 32 reviews)
Written By: bostic
Wonderful Purchase
Date: September 30, 2009
"I love this stuff!!! It helps keep the humidity up for my hermit crabs & they love to dig in it !!! They went wild when I put it in !!!!"
Review 4 for Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Substrate
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
(based on 32 reviews)
Written By: kippazsis
Excellent Substrate!!!
Date: September 20, 2009
"This is the best substrate out there, hands down. Easy care, great for tunneling, easy to keep moist/dry (whatever your needs are). I use for my snake and my mice. I don't have to worry about anything getting stuck in the snakes mouth when she eats, and it's extremely good for mice (think odor control!)"
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Review 5 for Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Substrate
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
(based on 32 reviews)
Written By: Juniornbop
Great Product
Date: September 20, 2009
"This substrate expands really well with minimal effort, unlike some others we have tried that were very difficult to get apart."
Review 6 for Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Substrate
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
(based on 32 reviews)
Written By: bustertheboa
Absolutely Fantastic!
Date: September 10, 2009
"This stuff is AWESOME! It holds humidity extremely well, which is crucial for hermit crab husbandry. It also is great for the crabs to dig in and bury themselves -- a MUST for safe and proper molting. It is vastly better than any other substrate -- aquarium gravel, sand, bark, mulch, crushed coral -- that I have used before. The hermies LOVE it!
The stuff expands to make a lot of substrate, Two bricks was enough to give 3-4 inches of substrate in my 20-gallon long. It doesn't take long to make and is easy to store when not in use, thanks to the brick compression. Once in the tank, the dark brown color is very attractive and gives a sharp contrast with the crabs and their various toys and tank decorations. It looks really good.
My only very minor "complaints" are as follows: The stuff is quite messy. The crabs trail bits and pieces of coconut husk into their food and water bowls. Also, the aroma is not particuarly pleasant. I wouldn't go so far as to call it frankly offensive, but I'm glad that the tank is largely covered by clear plastic to keep the humidity in the tank (and hence the aroma as well).
Lastly, you really can't clean the stuff by simply rinsing and washing it -- at least not like you can with crushed coral and gravel. You need to throw out all the substrate and replace it de novo. That is, unless you are willing to comb through it and manually remove all the decapod waste. With gravel and crushed coral, I would just wash the stuff out and reuse it. On the flip side, this product is infinitely better for satisfying the digging and burrowing needs of my hermies.
Overall this is a FABULOUS product for hermit crabs. It is reasonably priced and lasts a long time -- with a month or more, even up to 3 months if you do "spot cleaning", between changes -- so the inability to wash it and reuse it is not a big deal. I will most definitely keep getting it."
Review 7 for Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Substrate
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
(based on 32 reviews)
Written By: HermitCrabandDogLover
Perfect!
Date: September 7, 2009
"This is a great cheap substrate for my hermit crabs. It doesn't take long to expand and my crabs love to bury in it. It also holds heat and humidity very well."
Review 8 for Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Substrate
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
(based on 32 reviews)
Written By: Arachnophile
Awesome!
Date: July 14, 2009
"I use this in my Anole and Scorpion cages whenever I can get it. It holds humidity well and is a good substitute for the cypress mulch I used to use. It makes it easier to clean up little lizard and scorpion droppings because they don't fall into the gaps like they do with the mulch. Great product! I think I'd buy this in 100 pound cubes if they had them!"
Review 9 for Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Substrate
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
(based on 32 reviews)
Written By: NewFroggyMommy
I love this stuff
Date: May 16, 2009
"This is an excellent product to use. I use it for my Whites Tree Frogs as well as my Amazon milk frogs. Also when purchasing live plants for the viv. take out the potting soil as this causes impaction issues and replace it with this bedding. Its safer and the plants/frogs love it. I love that its inexpensive and goes along way. Ive had NO MOLD issues like others. I have had my humidity as far up as 99 when first placing this in the viv. I typically take things out of the viv and move the bedding around with my hands. No problems here !!!!"
Review 10 for Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Substrate
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
(based on 32 reviews)
Written By: ratykins94
Great for hermit crabs!
Date: April 9, 2009
"Really good for hermit crabs to dig and have fun in! Mine love it!"
Review 11 for Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Substrate
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
(based on 32 reviews)
Written By: megamelfina
Best Substrate for Crabs
Date: April 5, 2009
"This is an excellent substrate for hermit crabs. They love digging in it and it is lighter then sand! It also holds humidity really well."
Review 12 for Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Substrate
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
(based on 32 reviews)
Written By: LadyRaven
Love it!
Date: April 5, 2009
"I used the carpet floor covering for my Jungle Carpet Pythons, but needed something to keep the humidity higher. I purchased Eco Earth and I’m so glad I did! It keeps the humidity at the right level when misted daily. It is important that you don’t have it soggy or it can mold, just mist it enough in the morning that the humidity is maintain but it can become dry by the next morning when you mist it again. I expanded a whole brick and then put what I wasn’t using into a container already expanded so that it makes changing it out quick. I do not feed in their terrariums with the soil as it can be ingested, I use a separate feeding tank."
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Review 13 for Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Substrate
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
(based on 32 reviews)
Written By: Souli
Amazing product, will buy again.
Date: March 20, 2009
"This product is amazing, its ecologically safe, it stays moist constantly, is easy to use and is like dirt, but much cleaner
i have a chaco gold knee tarantula and it LOVES to burrow in it, you have to mist every day or two but other than that it holds moisture excellently and its soft and easy for critters to walk on
i will buy this product again but not for a couple years because according to some research, i don't have to change it for about 1-4 years!
coconut fiber prevents mold growth!!!
"
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Review 14 for Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Substrate
Overall Rating: 
2 out of 5
2 out of 5
(based on 32 reviews)
Written By: KTcat
Mold?!
Date: February 1, 2009
"I bought this for my juvenile Chinese Water Dragon, Cosmo, about a month ago. I used to have paper towels in the bottom of the cage but I couldn't keep the humidity up.
On the label it says this is good for tropical habitats- that's why I picked it.
Yes, it keeps the humidity up and it looks fantastic but after only a month there is a thin layer of white fluffy mold everywhere! (the cage is otherwise spotless) It also sticks to Cosmo's mouth and eyes and he doesn't like sitting on it.
I've sanitized the cage and went back to paper towels and he seems more lively.
All in all I do not recommend it for something like a Chinese water dragon which requires such large amounts of water and humidity.
But as long as you keep an eye out for mold I say try it for yourself, you might have better luck...
"
Reviewer Images
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User submitted photo
Review 15 for Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Substrate
Overall Rating: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
(based on 32 reviews)
Written By: Amphibafreak
Good!
Date: December 12, 2008
"This is an awesome product! I use it for my two frogs and it works perfectly. It is very absorbent, so you need to keep it moist though. The only problem that I have with it is that you have to soak it for a long time in water so that it loosens up (it comes in brick), which takes forever and is messy. But other than that, it is a good choice."
Review 16 for Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Substrate
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
(based on 32 reviews)
Written By: Cellphonebutton
PERFECT substrate!
Date: November 2, 2008
"OMG, this substrate is just perfect! Keeps the humidity in, lasts long (you don't need to use that much, you get a lot in a little bit!) it's a good price, & stays damp long. My hermit crabs love it, & find digging in it easily!"
Review 17 for Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Substrate
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
(based on 32 reviews)
Written By: Herm
Great Substrate for Hermit Crabs
Date: July 31, 2008
"I've found that Eco Earth makes a very good substrate for hermit crabs. It is much better than gravel or calcium sand as a main substrate, because it allows the hermit crabs to easily dig underground to molt, which is vital to their well-being. Eco-Earth also has a nice appearance and is reasonably inexpensive. I highly recommend this product."
Review 18 for Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Substrate
Overall Rating: 
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
(based on 32 reviews)
Written By: minpinlady
a little goes a long way
Date: July 20, 2008
"This product is a really good substrate for the bottom of a cage as long as you are going to put something else over it. It kept sticking to my frogs really bad so I had to put bark over the top of it. After that it worked really good at keeping the humidity up and it didn't get on my frogs as much. You get a good value for your money because it swells up so much that you don't need much of it!"
Review 19 for Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Substrate
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
(based on 32 reviews)
Written By: Vash
Great
Date: May 13, 2008
"I bought four bricks for my fifty five gallon tank thinking I would need all four to cover it but it expands so much I only needed two bricks to cover the bottom. It looks great and it was a good deal."
Review 20 for Zoo Med Eco Earth Compressed Coconut Fiber Expandable Substrate
Overall Rating: 
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
(based on 32 reviews)
Written By: Briee
Great
Date: January 27, 2008
"My pac man frogs just love this bedding. They love to burrow themselves in it. It can dry out if the light is really warm, but they should be sprayed daily anyway, so its not a big issue."