Avics/Cross Ventilation-- European vs USA Husbandry?

[Bierschneeman]

That is a typical American way of looking at it - many Europeans probably will either die laughing or get very upset. Around here many people, me included, will tell you to never, ever, ever sterilize an enclosure. They'll tell you to go out and use dirt from the forrest and untreated wood to seed your enclosure with microfauna. If you have a healthy microfauna in your enclosure you are much less likely to get any pathogens in there because pathogens will be outcompeted before they can take hold. In a sterile enclosure they'll jump in and multiply to their little hearts content. I'm a microbiologist, btw, so I deal with microfauna, too.

I never, ever sterilize terrariums I reuse, ever, and I don't plan on starting that. Even my snakes get untreated wood from my garden.

I think i might be unclear, or inelegant.

I only meant in the case of a dangerous infection you will not be able to sterilize it.

I did say you do not increase your chances of infection, its strictly an issue when you try to reuse a tank with a bad infection or dangerous infection.

I also am not yet (or just now) a tarantula keeper, I am commenting strictly on my professional experience with semi porous materials (plexi, plastic, rubbers, acrylic, silicone) and microfauna.

sorry for the confusion.

I too dont care much....unless i had something bad.

seed your enclosure with microfauna. If you have a healthy microfauna in your enclosure you are much less likely to get any pathogens in there because pathogens will be outcompeted before they can take hold. In a sterile enclosure they'll jump in and multiply to their little hearts content. I'm a microbiologist, btw, so I deal with microfauna, too..

common explanation, I love it.

in lawncare "a well seeded healthy lawn doesnt grow weeds"
in brewing "a well pitched healthy crop of yeast will suppress and forestall infection."

i, am not a microbiologist. not trying to sell my self as more than i am. I currently run the microbio lab at a brewery, but I am trained as a brewer first. Thats two decades of playing with yeasts other fungi and bacteria ( not much else.)

again only commented on the cleanability of semiporous materials. not suggesting they are more susceptible, just not 100% cleanable if it happens.