any tips for acclimating to a free range?

[madden]

I've set up a small free range for habanero, and he's been spending a couple hours a day in it, but when he's hanging out in it he's Waaaaay more territorial and aggressive towards me if I even enter the room haha. He doesn't care when I'm right next to him while hes in his cage. His free range is actually bigger and more thickly planted than his cage, with a powersun bulb suspended above to create.n 84 degree basking spot, so I don't think its environmental. Does he just need time to get used to it?

 

[Garrett]

Try getting some perching areas for him that are above your eye level, like 6-8 feet off the ground. Once he realizes he's out of reach of the big scary giant he'll probably relax

 

[EvilLost]

It sounds like your setup is fine, it is kind of odd for him to become MORE territorial...

I would agree with trying Garrett's idea....most of the time my guys just like to keep going UP when they are freeranged and they get comfy when they are sitting at the 5-6' height

try giving him stuff to climb a bit higher maybe see if he likes it

 

[madden]

He's only about four feet off the ground, I'll extend it upwards tomorrow and see how he likes it, I'll just have to figure out a way to suspend the lamp higher I suppose. Unless the basking spot can be below the highest point, but that seems like it might confuse him, at least to me

 

[wontbme]

He's only about four feet off the ground, I'll extend it upwards tomorrow and see how he likes it, I'll just have to figure out a way to suspend the lamp higher I suppose. Unless the basking spot can be below the highest point, but that seems like it might confuse him, at least to me

well 4 ft is not much at all...
make sure the basking bulb can't be touched my him/her though! it doesn't matter where the bulb is he/she will know where to go when he needs the heat. my chameleon has always tried touching her bulb when i take her out for a "walk" and ofcourse i don't allow her. its HOT. so yeah, keep it out of reach or wrap screen mesh around it