What kind of bugs can live on a chinchilla?

Question

My friend has a chinchilla and he's noticed some sort of "flea" around the tail area. He's not sure what it is and I've told him that fleas cannot live in their fur, but he thinks they might be able to live on the tail since the hair is a lot thinner. Is this true? If not, what kind of bug might be crawling around?

Answer 1

They might actually be worms if it is around the tail area.

Fleas cannot live on chinchillas because their fur is too dense.  Even though their tail is a lot thinner, I still do not think that this could happen.

I know you say it is black and looks like a flea but it may be mites.

Does it jump?

Answer 2

a chinchillas fur is too dense for fleas to live and nest in. it could possible be mites. i would take your chinchilla to the vet where they can give a medication called Ivermectin, which will kill the mites. there could possible be fleas on the tail, but it is very unlikely due to the fact that all chinchilla hair is very dense.

Answer 3

Yes, it could be mites.,... need to have it checked by a vet.  Blood sucking mites are most common, there are a few types that are hosted on chinchillas

Answer 4

What color are they? Are you sure they aren't lice? Their lice don't look like the lice we have, and there are species of lice in rodents that are darker colored.