Hiya folks

I need some advice big time.

Three weeks ago i bought two Gerbils who were around 10 weeks old from the local pet store.
With this purchase i bought a new 'gerbilarium' and all the little things a Gerbil likes, a wheel, wood to chew on, ladders to run up and down and tubing (plastic) to roam around within the woodchip base material.

I have fed them when required and they have their water changed every three days.

However, i have noticed since last week one of them is not as lively as the other, and i attributed this to personality and nocturnal habits.
They are female siblings and get on well, but one is walking around like itt is drunk, it staggers and is very tentative around the 'gerbilarium'.
The poor thing is trying to "shake off" what it has...and is really not in a good shape....

I have tried contacting our local vet, but i have no answer....

does anyone know what these syptoms may be causing?
Its bottom is dry and its not wet in any way...

Any advice would be gratefully accepted.

Matt

Update...

The Gerbil has climbed to the top of the 'gerbilarium' and is sitting there like it is sleeping, its sibling is standing guard and very uncharacteristically is attacking any movement i make on the arium....

gawd i dont know what to do.....i have checked numerous websites and nothing states what i have mentioned.on what it could be that is wrong...

Here is a gerbil site - try asking there.

http://www.petwebsite.com/forums/default.asp

Since you can't get hold of the vet, maybe someone who works at the pet store could help you?

Update...

The Gerbil has eaten and had LOTS of fluid....seemed toperk up when i changed the base (with wood shavings)...however, it has squeaked a fair bit..and this has not been helped by the sibling become far more aggressive toawrds the ill gerbil....i removed the food...and it seems to have calmed down the better gerbil...its 11pm here..not much one can do till morning

Thank you

You might want to separate them for awhile if you can. If it is ill, it might benefit from a quieter atmosphere and being away from its cagemate. Sometimes ill animals get rather picked on.

Separating them is a good idea, for the ill Gerbil. The chipper one could "catch" what the other has, also.

I would ask at the pet shop. Maybe they know the cause, or they've had problems of the same kind. Good Luck!

You're right Veronikkamarrz, good you're so observant, your gerbil does seem to be in some kind of pain and distress, can be a number of things which is why a vet really needs to look at her asap.

Meanwhile, (unrelated tip) it's best you remove the wheel because these have proved hazardous for gerbils unless the design is such that the tail cannot possibly get caught. Wheels (fine for hamsters) have caused nasty accidents for gerbils, sometimes even skinning the tail, ouch! You can't always rely on pet shops to be good about this point.