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Specifications

Brand: Pettex

Full description

A tortoise kept on the wrong substrate spends its whole life on a surface its body never evolved to dig into, which matters more than it looks like it should for an animal that seems content just sitting still.

Pettex's Tortoise substrate is a mix of top soil and sand with added calcium, heat treated and sanitised, designed to replicate the arid habitats that Mediterranean and Russian tortoises come from. It's sold in a 10 litre bag and Pettex also list it as suitable for many lizard species from similarly arid habitats.

10 litre bag
Mix of top soil and sand
Calcium added
Heat treated and sanitised
Formulated for arid-habitat species — Mediterranean and Russian tortoises named specifically
Also listed as suitable for many arid-habitat lizard species

On species. This substrate is built for arid-habitat reptiles specifically, and Pettex don't name every compatible species on this card. If you're keeping a tortoise or lizard from a rainforest or semi-aquatic background, this is very likely the wrong substrate for that species' moisture needs, so check what your particular animal's care sheet actually calls for.

Who it's for: keepers of Mediterranean or Russian tortoises, or arid-habitat lizards, wanting a dig-friendly, calcium-added substrate.

Delivery

Tracked UK delivery — your estimated arrival date is shown above and updates automatically. Standard delivery £2.99, and free on orders over £39. Full details on our delivery information page. Delivery information

Returns

30 days to change your mind, no interrogation. Items need to be unused (sensory products unopened, for hygiene). Full details on our delivery & returns page.

Payment

Secure checkout by Stripe — cards, Apple Pay, Link and Klarna. We never see or store your card details.

Common questions

What is it made from?

A mix of top soil and sand, with added calcium.

Which animals is it for?

Pettex formulate it for arid-habitat species — Mediterranean and Russian tortoises are named specifically, and it's also listed as suitable for many lizard species from similarly dry habitats.

Is it treated in any way?

Yes — Pettex describe it as heat treated and sanitised.

What size bag is it?

10 litres.

How long does delivery take?

Your estimated delivery date is shown above and updates automatically. UK orders are sent tracked — standard delivery is £2.99, and free on orders over £39.

How do I track my order?

As soon as your order is dispatched we email you a tracking link, so you can follow it all the way to your door.

What if I need to return my order?

You have 30 days from delivery to change your mind. Just email us with your order number and we’ll send the return steps the same working day — see our delivery & returns page for details.

Pettex Reptile Tortoise

Why we chose it

Calcium added directly to the substrate is a small extra that a plain sand-and-soil mix doesn't offer, which is the detail that got it stocked over a generic bag. Ten litres is also a reasonable size to keep a tortoise enclosure topped up without buying constantly.

— Matt, founder

Why buy from Giddy Pets?

Carefully selected by pet ownersEvery product is chosen and quality-checked by people who actually live with dogs, cats and small pets.
Tracked delivery on every orderUK delivery with tracking as standard — and it’s free when you spend over £39.
UK customer supportReal, UK-based humans read every email — usually Matt, the founder. No bots, no ticket numbers.
Easy returns30 days to change your mind, no interrogation. If it’s not right, we’ll make it right.