Excavator Clay

What exactly is excavator clay? I've seen the substrate on several occasions but can never find information on what type of clay it is, what makes it unique, etc. I want to create a better, more natural substrate for my desert gold millipedes and want to mix a little bit of a clay substrate into the mix to help the substrate hold burrows, along with some other stuff to hold at least a little humidity of course. Is there a cheaper alternative also?

I read that a mix of bentonite and sand can make an excavator clay substitute, so maybe that is what is actually in it.

I think excavator clay is something that you can shape but it turns into a solid material, it can be used for hardscaping reptile enclosure and designing the layout. If you wanted to use something to help hold burrows I think just regular topsoil would work. If you use this be positive that there aren't any fertilizers. Be sure that the millipedes still have enough decomposables in the substrate to eat.

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Originally Posted by Spicey

I read that a mix of bentonite and sand can make an excavator clay substitute, so maybe that is what is actually in it.

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I'll have to try that, thank you so much for the idea!

It's moldable and holds its shape well, which makes it great for your desert gold millipedes as it allows them to create stable burrows. The clay typically dries hard, helping maintain the structure of the burrows while also being easy to remoisten and reshape as needed.

For a cheaper alternative, some people use a mix of natural clay (like bentonite) with sand and soil, which can be similar in texture and functionality but at a lower cost. Just ensure the natural clay is free of chemicals and safe for your pets.

Interestingly, this concept of mixing materials for optimized functionality is somewhat similar to details about bridges construction, where a mix of materials is used to ensure stability and longevity.