Carolina box turtles should not be kept in deep water. The Carolina box turtle is a terrestrial turtle, but it loves water. In the wild, it generally inhabits forests and bushes near rivers or ponds, occasionally wading through very shallow streams. Among them, the Florida subspecies is particularly fond of water, especially weakly alkaline water. Carolina box turtles are generally diurnal and active in the early morning and after rain.

Carolina box turtle is an omnivorous turtle , eat a variety of animal bait including small fish and shrimp, also eat planted animal bait such as cactus, aloe vera, various fruits, and also eat cactus, aloe vera, various fruits and other plant bait. The Florida subspecies are herbivorous. In winter, the Carolina box turtle goes into hibernation, and in habits, this species shares many similarities with the yellow-rimmed box turtle native to Asia.