Loose leaf litter can be spread in the cage as well. Hot rocks do not work well for turtles. Water should be no deeper than the turtle's chin when its head is partially retracted. Turtles prefer to defecate in their water bowl, so it should be cleaned several times per week. Juvenile box turtles are often much more aquatic than adults.
Box turtles drown in deep water, such as a swimming pool.
In captivity, chronic nutritional problems are typical for most box turtles. Nutritional diseases can be avoided by feeding a well-balanced diet that is continually varied. Keep in mind that different species have different dietary preferences. Other protein options include vitamin fortified chows, but they should be limited to less than 5 percent of the total diet because of the high vitamin, fat, and protein content. All dry chows should be soaked in water for 30 minutes to soften them.