What is wrong with my gerbil?

Question

I got two female gerbils about three weeks ago. One of them is named Chica. She is black and lives with another female gerbil named Blanka. They were both pretty small when I got them and then Blanka started getting bigger. Chica eats more than Blanka yet she is still very small. Our Air conditioner is now broken and it is ten degrees hotter in the house than it usually is. They just kind of mope around. They are a bit damp and aren't very active. They are still alive and breathing, just way less active. Is there something that I can do to help Chica grow bigger or cool down there cage? I am open to any suggestions.

Answer 1

A great and safe way to cool down your gerbils cage is to go to petsmart and buy a cooling plate. it is a slab that they can lay on and cool themselves down. if they are hot then that will make them slower but dont let them get to hot and keep them well hydrated.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

i think if you have a fan you could put it close to the cage...and about the growth your rat will grow when it sill grow

Answer 3

they could just be slow growers and them not doin anything could just be that they are bored make sure there is loads to do in there cage that probably y they mope around hope this helps

Answer 4

See if someone else can keep them til your a/c gets fixed.  Lethargic conditions in a gerbil is not a good sign at all, plus bacteria grow in in hot, damp conditions and they are really prone to bacterial infections of the respiratory system.  I would seriously see if someone could help you out.

Answer 5

Size:

I don't think there's anything wrong with Blanka.  She may have been the runt of the litter and just might be smaller for that reason.  There's no real big reason to freak out over it unless she wasn't eating.  But you say she is, so I'm sure she's fine.  Just small.

Heat:  

Ah, a big problem indeed.  There are a few things you can do.  You could put one of your plates in the freezer for awhile so it gets real cold and put it in the cage (a small tea plate so they don't HAVE to walk on it).  You could run a fan against their cage.  If they live in a glass tank, this might be good.  Even though the air doesn't hit them, it should cool down the glass and thus cool down the inside of the cage.  

Other than that, just add some crushed ice to their water bottle, perhaps offer them a small ice cube.  Make sure they have water at all times and they should be able to last till you get your air conditioner fixed. (: