{"product_id":"et-stone-desert-substrate-black-10kg-pt3148","title":"Exo Terra Stone Desert Substrate BLACK 10kg (PT3148)","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe ET Stone Desert Substrate in Black is a natural desert and savannah soil mix designed for keepers who want to create a functional, realistic arid environment. Unlike plain sand, this substrate replicates the complex composition of real desert soils — a blend of sand, decomposed granite, and clay — giving you a medium that behaves like the real thing and looks the part in a black colourway.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat It's Made Of\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eNatural desert soil composition with no added dyes or chemicals. The black variant achieves its colouration through the natural mineral content of the mix, not artificial colouring — making it safe for direct contact with reptiles and suitable for species that dig, burrow, or ingest substrate incidentally.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eLandscape Building\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis substrate is specifically formulated to hold its shape when moulded wet and remain stable once dry. You can build outcrops, tunnels, burrows, and elevated basking platforms that won't collapse — giving your setup genuine three-dimensional structure rather than a flat sand bed.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eThermal and Humidity Behaviour\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eActs as an excellent heat conductor, supporting surface and under-substrate temperature gradients\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCool, slightly humid burrows form naturally at depth, allowing reptiles to thermoregulate and absorb moisture through their skin during rest\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWarmer elevated areas dry out faster, creating the thermal gradient arid species depend on\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eBehavioural Benefits\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe texture and density of this substrate actively encourages natural digging and burrowing behaviour — important for the physical and psychological welfare of species such as leopard geckos, uromastyx, bearded dragons, and similar arid-environment reptiles. Providing a substrate they can actually interact with reduces stress and supports instinctive activity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt 10kg, there's sufficient material to build meaningful depth and structure in most standard vivarium setups. A substrate that works with your animal's biology rather than against it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Peregrine","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54148488036689,"sku":"SHD220","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0963\/0403\/8225\/files\/SHD220_1.jpg?v=1782599407","url":"https:\/\/viperia.co.uk\/products\/et-stone-desert-substrate-black-10kg-pt3148","provider":"Viperia UK","version":"1.0","type":"link"}