In each of the last four years, I've raised between 50 and 100 monarch butterflies, mostly from small caterpillars and a few from eggs. My survival rate for caterpillars is close to 100% using raising chambers and materials that are either recycled, repurposed, or purchased from thrift stores.

A 10 gallon aquarium will support up to 20 caterpillars through the metamorphosis to fully formed butterfly. I have five aquariums and all were purchased for less than $10 at thrift stores. If you are a member of Freecycle.org, you can usually get them free. To use an aquarium set it on its end so that the opening (usually at the top) is one of the vertical sides. Use whatever you have on hand to cover the open side, but it must leave no openings large enough for a Caterpillar to wiggle through. Also, it must be easily removed or hinged like a door so that you can access it frequently. I usually use flexible screen held on by double-sided duct tape.

It takes almost 3 weeks or a small caterpillar to go through the remainder of metamorphosis. 20 caterpillars will consume a large amount of milkweed and will produce a large amount of waste. Although the smell of the waste is not strong, for sanitation it is recommended that you regularly clean out the bottom of the raising chamber. Also, it will be necessary to regularly add fresh milkweed.

If you only want to raise a couple at a time, you can use a clear container such as the Tropicana plastic orange juice containers you see in the photograph. Leave the lid on, but turn it upside down. That way to clean out the waste all you have to do is open to the hatch to let it out. I use an X-Acto knife to cut a flap on the side so that milkweed can be added when necessary, and once the butterflies emerge the flap can be bent open completely to allow the butterflies to emerge.

Both of the mesh clothes hampers were also thrift store purchases. They can be used to transport butterflies for release.