Tiny black beetle

[Annette22]

Hi there.
Found 2 tiny black beetles 2 weeks ago. Very very tiny. I’ve found them in house before very occasionally but I’m worried because I found another tonight when I was spot cleaning. I’m a vet nurse and know it’s def not a parasite but worried about infestation in cage. I’ve not seen any more so I don’t know if they have just flew in and are attracted to the enclosure as a food source. She has the Bucastate 3.0 my question is do I need to put her in quarantine cage and deep clean the enclosure. I.e Get rid of all the bedding and do steam clean of enclosure and assessories. I know this will stress her immensely and the thought of stressing her is stressing me out very much too and I’m so worried about it and her. I should mention I have anxiety and sometimes struggle with this and intrusive worry about her and the enclosure. she has been very stressed and worried with fireworks so I’m reluctant to do it. From what I’ve read they may be carpet beetles and I’ve been hoovering a lot to ensure everywhere is clean in the house. If I see them again can get photo but hoping I don’t. I have been regularly spot cleaning and section cleaning every 2 months.

 

[Annette22]

I have frozen all her food and sprays before putting in. I use white paper bedding either niteangel or small pet select. So I’ve not noticed any bugs in the bedding when spot cleaning like I say they have always been on the surface either in one of her wooden blocks where inscatter feed or on one of her wooden things agin with food/spray. I did get forage mat with blocks from pets at home and didn’t freeze that and didn’t freeze wooden chew. I don’t know I’m just really stressed about it all. If I have to redo the cage I might have to buy fitch first to get correct amount because jumbo small pet select is out of stock.

 

[Annette22]

It’s not wheevils ants or anything like that. I’ve checked and they don’t look like that and like I say I have only seen 3 in total. And I have also seen 1 in my bathroom and in wall near my plant a month or so ago.

 

[Annette22]

Also not booklice

 

[Maz]

Hello. I know these things are a worry but there's no rush to do a big disinfection right now. They won't be doing any harm and the main thing is to work out where they could have come from. A wood source sounds likely to me. It's possible it's from food. But if there are only 2 or 3 and you remove them and remove what you think the source is (eg a wood item) then you might find there aren't any more.

 

[Maz]

It’s not wheevils ants or anything like that. I’ve checked and they don’t look like that and like I say I have only seen 3 in total. And I have also seen 1 in my bathroom and in wall near my plant a month or so ago.

Posted at the same time. Ok if you found a couple elsewhere in the house it may not be related to anything in the hamster cage. The plant could be a possibility maybe. For now I would just remove the 2 or 3 you've found in the cage and maybe remove the wood blocks the other wood thing and the forage tray - it may be they are just attracted to wood rather than coming from the wood (if you've found them elsewhere in the house). It's a damp time of year and all kinds of insects appear. Do you have a photo of one of these beetles and how big are they? I know any insect type thing would make most people a bit anxious

 

[Maz]

So basically - after removing them and those two or three items, I'd watch and wait and hopefully there won't be any more. Is your bathroom anywhere near your plant by the way?! And is the plant in the same room as the hamster cage?

 

[Annette22]

Thank you so much. They are really tiny like pin head. I didn’t get a photo. Thank you so much Maz I feel like you are always the one to calm down my panics.

 

[Annette22]

So basically - after removing them and those two or three items, I'd watch and wait and hopefully there won't be any more. Is your bathroom anywhere near your plant by the way?! And is the plant in the same room as the hamster cage?

Plant was in the bathroom actually then I moved it to living room.

 

[Annette22]

Yep the plants in the living room and so is her enclosure.

 

[Annette22]

This is where it is

 

[Maz]

They're probably from the plant then and heading for warm humid environments and wood. Are you very attached to the plant? Just wondering if it could go outside, remove the two or three from the cage and then you probably won't get any more. But as a precaution I'd also remove the wood items you saw them on and freeze or bake those. Just in case they are female beetles - no idea how beetles procreate!

At least it's not fruit flies - they're a pain. (Apologies to any fruit fly lovers!)

 

[Socks' Mum]

Your hammy has a lovely cage Welcome to the forum ❤

 

[Annette22]

They're probably from the plant then and heading for warm humid environments and wood. Are you very attached to the plant? Just wondering if it could go outside, remove the two or three from the cage and then you probably won't get any more. But as a precaution I'd also remove the wood items you saw them on and freeze or bake those. Just in case they are female beetles - no idea how beetles procreate!

At least it's not fruit flies - they're a pain. (Apologies to any fruit fly lovers!)

Will do

 

[Annette22]

Your hammy has a lovely cage Welcome to the forum ❤

Thank you

 

[Maz]

Your hammy has a lovely cage Welcome to the forum ❤

Annette has been here for a while and posted before

 

[Annette22]

Annette has been here for a while and posted before

I appreciate the welcome again I’ve not been on for a while to be fair

 

[Socks' Mum]

Annette has been here for a while and posted before

Oops