Amazonian peoples understood that charcoal was a key ingredient of their terra preta soils, and today it is a staple component in nearly every substate mix used in the terrarium and vivarium hobbies.

In addition to its use as a substrate, it is also an excellent material for culturing live foods inside the vivarium, particularly springtails (Collembola) – by just filling the trough with charcoal, it creates an ongoing food source for freshly morphed froglets. Because it weighs half as much as calcined clay, it also makes an excellent drainage material that will help reduce the overall weight of your vivarium display. 

It takes approx. 1 lb (0.45 kg) of horticultural charcoal to fill the trough of our vivariums, and an additional 1 lb (2 lbs total) to create a drainage layer over the entire base/deck. 

Substrate materials are shipped using appropriately sized USPS flat-rate boxes.