These tortoise come from a very hot and dry climate, and are well adapted to life with little water. In captivity they will get most of their water from the food they eat. A shallow water dish should be provided, although do not expect all sulcatas to drink regularly from a dish of standing water. Instead, soak baby tortoises twice a week in chin-deep, luke warm water for 10-15 minutes. Doing so almost always encourages them to drink, and this will help insure adequate hydration. As the animals get larger, and they are consuming a greater amount of food, soaking becomes less important, however some water source should be provided on a regular basis. Ambient humidity does not pose a problem when keeping sulcatas. However, recent research has shown that growing tortoises given access to a humid shelter (like a burrow in nature) are less likely to show signs of pyramiding, a common shell deformity seen in fast-growing tortoise species. This can be as simple as a clump of moist moss stuffed into the animals favorite shelter, and misted every few days to keep it barely wet.