Due to the hot, dry habitat they live in the Sulcata’s are crepuscular, meaning they are mostly active at dawn and dusk. When they get too hot they coat their skin with mud when available to cool off. When mud wallows are not available, they retreat to their cooler burrows.

Their ability to live in a dry and hostile environment has to some extent saved the Sulcata. Man is still their biggest threat to survival, as habitat alteration and collection for food play a major role in their demise. They are also often used for target practice by some army training camps.