>>i am intending to get one fairly young. and in relation to the heat lamp and bulb wattage the enclosure will be 18 x 18 x 24. what is your take on auto misters and foggers?

I personally would not recommend a untra-sonic fogger. If you have ever stuck your hand near one, it is extrememly painful to the touch. Besides, manually daily spraying lets you get a look at the animal and how well it's doing. Auto misters can cause things to go unnoticed.

Depending on the cage material, I would recommend a 25W bulb on one end of the cage. That should supply enough of a temp gradient from one end to the other. With my bulbs, I get a basking spot of 86-88 directly on the perch under the bulb, with a ambient room temp of 73.

Good luck.
Brandon Osborne
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www.brandonosbornereptiles.com