Zoo Med Forest Floor Bedding, 24 Quarts Review (2026)

Who Forest Floor bedding suits

Zoo Med markets this bedding as a recommended substrate for many species of snakes, lizards, land turtles, tortoises, frogs, toads, salamanders, tarantulas and other invertebrates, according to the manufacturer's own product page. The common thread across that list is a need for retained humidity, since Zoo Med states the bedding holds moisture to help maintain a humid enclosure. Ball python and boa keepers reach for this bedding often, since those species do best with consistent ambient humidity that a cypress mulch substrate helps sustain between mistings. Keepers of arid species such as many leopard geckos or bearded dragons should look elsewhere, since this bedding is built around moisture retention rather than staying dry.

What is in the 24 quart bag

This is a 100% natural cypress mulch substrate, sold by Zoo Med in several sizes from 1 quart up to this 24 quart bag, which weighs a little over 12 pounds according to retailer listings. The 24 quart size is Zoo Med's largest packaged option and is meant for filling one larger enclosure or topping off a couple of mid-size tanks rather than a single small terrarium. Because it is a wood-based mulch, Zoo Med's own packaging carries a California Prop 65 note about wood dust, and recommends basic dust precautions when handling a fresh bag indoors. The mulch's texture is coarser than compressed coconut substrates, which some keepers prefer for its natural forest floor appearance in a display enclosure.

Handling it day to day

Fresh cypress mulch can be noticeably dusty straight out of the bag, which is common with wood-based bedding and is worth lightly misting or airing out before adding it to an enclosure, particularly for species sensitive to airborne particles. Once in place, the bedding is misted along with the rest of the enclosure to maintain humidity, and its natural absorbency helps it hold that moisture between waterings better than a completely inert substrate would. As with other organic beddings, spot cleaning waste and doing a full substrate change on a regular schedule keeps mold and odor in check, and Zoo Med does not list a fixed replacement interval, so keepers typically follow their own enclosure's humidity and cleanliness needs.

How it compares with Fluker's and the coconut chip option

This bedding is very similar in material to Fluker's Premium Tropical Cypress Bedding, which also ranks highly in this guide, so the choice between the two often comes down to bag size and price per quart rather than a real difference in performance, since both are twice processed cypress mulch. Against the ReptiPlus coconut chip block, Zoo Med's Forest Floor has a coarser, more open texture that some keepers find less ideal for fine burrowing species, while the coconut substrate compacts into a denser, more moisture-retentive base once hydrated. Keepers who want a substrate that looks more like a natural forest floor on display tend to prefer the cypress mulch options over the coconut chip alternatives.

Verdict and who should pick a different substrate

This bag earns our score of 8.4 out of 10 as a dependable, widely used cypress mulch for keepers who need a humidity-holding substrate for a mid to large enclosure. Keepers with desert or semi-arid species should choose a dry substrate instead, since this bedding is designed around moisture retention rather than staying dry. Anyone setting up a bioactive enclosure with fine-burrowing invertebrates or amphibians that prefer a denser substrate may also want to compare this against a coconut fiber or coco chip product, since cypress mulch's coarser texture suits surface dwelling and semi-burrowing species better than deep tunnelers.

Frequently asked questions