Are carpet beetles harmful to human health?

Are carpet beetles harmful too leopard geckos?

• I have a seven month old female leopard gecko, and i keep finding these tiny black beetles (that i believe to be carpet beetles) in her water and various other parts of her tank. This is what they look like: http://www.entomology.wisc.edu/diaglab/04images/504carpet-beetle.jpg I am scared she will eat (or already has eaten) one. Even if they aren't poisonous to leos, they may also carry parasites. Does anyone know a way to effectively keep these insects out of her tank? I have her in a ten gallon tank with a screen top that came with the starter kit i bought at petco.

• Answer:

  They should be harmless. As for getting rid of them--she should be kept on paper towel, slate tile, or newspaper, so you should just be able to discard the bedding, wash the tank and all the furniture with soap and hot water, and that should be the end of them. If they are getting into the tank from the rest of your home...that's something you will want to address in your home! Carpet beetles can be quite a nuisance in a home. A tight-fitting screen top on the tank should keep them out. Of course, your leo being 7 months old now, she'll need a new cage in 5 months or so anyhow. I recommend shopping for a nice looking reptile cage as her final enclosure, rather than a tank with a screen top. They have some beautiful cage options out there, and some even come with built-in heat (just add a thermostat). Since leopard geckos live for up to 30 years, a nice-looking cage will make you happy, and your gecko comfortable, and it will be easier to maintain the temperatures and environment. Here are some options: http://www.showcasecages.com/ http://www.animalplastics.com http://www.visionproducts.us/htm7/cages.html