how early to release?

[pinkbungalow]

Hi,

I have my first born today! My question - I don't know when the monarch emerged - sometime today but I don't know if it was 8 hours ago or just 2 or 3. He seems pretty active, trying to fly, and he's in a plastic pitcher with some sticks in it. He can't get traction on the plastic so he flounders around until I help him grab a stick. then he hangs for a while, then tries to fly around some more. I kinda wanted to keep him til tomorrow to show my dad, but he seems restless so I am wondering if I should release him this afternoon before he gets banged up from trying to fly in the container?

thanks,
Holly

[harpo787]

A plastic pitcher is all you have? That doesn't sound very big...surely you have SOMETHING a bit larger? What will you do for future hatchings, especially if you have a few happening at once? You can't put them all in one pitcher!

Why not have the monarch on your finger and take a picture for your father of it on your finger? When they're still "fresh" out of the pupa, they'll hang on. Just earlier today, my mom spotted one that had come out of the pupa within an hour or so. It was hanging upside down from the pupa and fell. It was more than glad to hold on to my finger and I managed to snap a shot:

[pinkbungalow]

well, it is a fairly large pitcher, and there was only one caterpillar in there, it was my first attempt and he made his chrysalis before I figured out what else I could put him in. I have a larger habitat made with screen and another in a small fishtank on it's end.

I decided to release him and he flew a little, then hung out on some plants, flew a little more, and after a couple hours flew away, although I did get some good picutres first. I think I will have another hatch today.

thanks!

[psi_chemie]

A lot of people start out with only one or two butterflies and small cages. My first was in a small jar, and everything was OK. Now I'm building 1 meter tall 30 cm square cages for freinds.. I wish I had a sunroom or greenhouse. That would do it!

[harpo787]

I guess I went a bit overboard for my first try...my "masterpiece" (which I still need to chronicle in my "My Monarch Experience" thread) measures 4 feet x 4 feet x 8 feet! I guess this is the official unveiling pic!