Ebe is being sluggish.. im so worried

[someone tell me what to do]

last saturday my boyfriend and i got 2 little gerbils from a local pet shop.im guessing they were about 4 weeks or so. maybe older. they were pretty little. Anyhow, when we brought them home they were both very active, and we set up theyre home and everything, got them food and water and they would both eat and drink.we named them Ebe, and Adriane. but then we went over to my boyfriends mom's house., and when we came home Adriane was acting very slow and sluggish. but we thought that she was just tired since ive read they have funny sleeping patterns. and so we left her alone and went to bed and when we got up for church in the morning Adriane was dead. and we were really sad. we burried her in in my boyfriends parents backyard before church. so then we were down to 1 gerbil. and were were worried about Ebe, (who was still very active) being lonely . so when my boyfriend went to work on Monday he stoped at a different pet shop and got another gerbil . we think she is about 6 weeks old, or a little older, shes a little bigger than Ebe, we named her Nova, and the 2 of them get along really well. now its thursday and everything has been going very well. But today when i woke up and went to get Ebe out to play she was being very slow and sluggish. and i have her sitting on my lap on a blanket now and shes just sitting there. . her eyes arent even all the way opean... im really really worried about her and i dont know what to do or why she is getting like this.. could it be that the little ones we got from the 1st pet shop were sick? Nova is doing fine.. but now im worried that they will all die. Iv formed a strong bond with Ebe, that we didnt have time to form with Adriane. and i dont want anything to happen to her.. What should i do???

[pixytwinkle]

iIm really sorry you lost your gerbil
I would split the two gerbils up for a while because it could be something that spreads. Is there a vet in your area that deals with small animals if there is i would reccomend that you go to them. I really would split the two gerbils up and maybe cleaning everything the gerbils have been in contact with to kill any harmful bacteria. I hope everything turns out ok.

[sweetie]

I am sorry to hear of your loss. I sense that you are upset and anxious that the second gerbil will also faulter.

First, I would contact a vet. Second, I would clean everything. WHat type of bedding are you using? What type of toys/items do you have in there? More information would be helpful. What have you given them to eat? Have you noticed any diarreah?

[lydia]

Oh dear,I am very sorry that you lost Adriane .Understand completely why you are worried about Ebe.

As Ebe and Nova have already been living together,if what is wrong with Ebe is contagious,Nova may already have it so separating them now is probably too late to prevent her from catching it.So personally, I would only separate her from Ebe if it was going to be beneficial for them.
If you do separate them,try and have their cages in separate rooms.Always feed Nova first etc.,and wash your hands thoroughly before handling or touching Ebe.If possible,change your clothes as well.Observe strict quarantine,until you know exactly what you are dealing with.
I would make an appointment with a vet straight away,as already suggested by Sweetie and Pixytwinkle.
Also,would have been a very good idea to notify the pet shop that you bought them from about Adriane dying.
They may have been able to offer help or advice,or,if the gerbils still with them that hadn't been sold yet had developed problems since you bought your 2,they may have been able to tell you exactly what is wrong and how to deal with it.
Moe information about their cage and conditions would be usefull,then,if you've inadvertantly done something that is not beneficial for your new gerbils,we may be able to pin-point it.

I don't think that you have,but better to make sure.
I do hope that Ebe pulls through,and you don't lose her or Nova.

Lyd