Zoo Med Box Cavern Kit with Excavator 12lb
Pack size
12 lb (5.4 kg)
Zoo Med Box Cavern Kit with Excavator 12lb
Everything needed to sculpt a burrow system, in one box. The Zoo Med Cavern Kit pairs 12 lb (5.4 kg) of Excavator Clay Burrowing Substrate with the tools to shape it — a tunnel tube, four balloons to mould chambers, a balloon attachment assembly, a shovel and a mixing bag — so you can build caverns, tunnels and hides that hold their shape once the clay sets, the way a burrowing species would dig them in the wild.
Key features
- All-natural clay — Excavator substrate contains no added dyes, colours or chemicals, and holds its shape once formed so burrows don't collapse.
- Full tool set included — tunnel tube and two balloon sizes let you mould connected chambers rather than digging blind into a solid block.
- Instructions included — a full installation booklet walks through building the layout before you commit clay to the enclosure.
- Diggable once formed — animals that burrow naturally can still excavate and modify the tunnels themselves.
What's included
12 lb (5.4 kg) Excavator Clay Burrowing Substrate, one 7 in (18 cm) tunnel tube, two 5 in (13 cm) round balloons, two 9 in (23 cm) round balloons, a balloon attachment assembly, a 10 in (25 cm) shovel, an Excavator mixing bag and a full installation booklet.
Not included
The enclosure itself, a water source for mixing the clay, and any base substrate you want to run alongside the sculpted sections are not included.
Specifications
| Substrate weight | 12 lb (5.4 kg) |
|---|---|
| Tunnel tube | 7 in (18 cm) |
| Small balloons | 5 in (13 cm) x 2 |
| Large balloons | 9 in (23 cm) x 2 |
| Shovel | 10 in (25 cm) |
| Additives | None — no added dyes, colours or chemicals |
Suitable for, and not suitable for
Suitable for burrowing reptiles and invertebrates kept in enclosures large enough for a sculpted clay layout, and for keepers who want to build multi-chamber hides rather than a single flat substrate bed. Not a complete substrate on its own for species that need a soft, loose digging layer over the whole floor — Excavator is best used for the sculpted sections, with a separate base substrate elsewhere in the enclosure.
Care and maintenance
Follow the included installation booklet for mixing and shaping the clay, and allow it to dry and firm up before introducing the animal. Spot-clean waste from formed tunnels as you would any substrate, and avoid saturating the structure with water after it has set, which can soften and collapse it.
Warranty and delivery
Covered by Zoo Med's standard manufacturer warranty against defects in packaging or contents. Shipped from Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium, North Lakes QLD.
Common questions
Can burrowing animals dig through it once it sets?
Yes — Excavator is designed to hold a formed shape while still being diggable, so animals that burrow naturally can extend or modify the tunnels themselves.
Does the kit include everything I need, or just the clay?
The kit includes the clay plus the tunnel tube, four balloons for shaping chambers, a balloon attachment assembly, a shovel, a mixing bag and an installation booklet — you'll still need your own water for mixing.
Will it work in any size enclosure?
It suits enclosures with enough floor space and height for a sculpted layout; check the installation booklet's guidance against your enclosure dimensions before planning the build.
Does it contain any dyes or chemicals?
No — Zoo Med states the substrate has no added dyes, colours or chemicals.
Goes well with
Works alongside a separate base substrate for the rest of the enclosure floor, and a mister or humidifier where the species needs the clay kept from drying out too quickly.
