What Do You Put a Baby Box Turtle In?

Consider the needs of a grown turtle when choosing a home for a baby box turtle. Different varieties of box turtles will grow to be different sizes so do your research when choosing your new pet.

  1. Enclosure

    • Aquariums can be used to house baby box turtles if the aquarium is at least a 20-gallon size tank. You can also opt to build an inexpensive box-type enclosure from plywood.

    Temperature

    • Keep temperatures in the enclosure around 70 to 80 degrees and provide a hotter basking spot reaching temperatures around 90 degrees.

    Light

    • Use an incandescent 75 to 100 watt bulb to provide light and create a hot basking area. Turn the lights off at night to mimic a natural environment.

    Substrate

    • Use a substrate that will provide humidity for the bottom of the cage. Woodchips, peat moss and sand work well for this purpose.

    Feeding

    • The turtle's diet should consist of 50 percent high protein foods such as insects and 50 percent vegetation such as dark greens. Provide fruit but limit the amount to no more than 25 percent of the total diet.