Now this time it sounds like heart. It sounds like he has some degree of
heart failure and the nice, warm blood isn't circulating to keep him warm,
hence the tankmates taking over that function, and with the blood not
circulating well, oxygen and other nutrients are not getting to his body
cells so he is weak. Call the vet. Maybe there is a teeny, tiny gerbil
dose of digoxin or some other cardiotonic drug he can have. (The digoxin
dose would have to be teeny, tiny--it's already around 0.125mg-0.25mg for
the usual adult human). He needs to conserve his energy in the meantime.
Keep the room warmer where his cage is and make sure there is alot of
bedding so he doesn't have to manufacture body heat as much. Don't push
water on him--of course he needs some but if forced to take in fluids it
could increase the workload of his heart. Good Luck with him...
(and please nobody report me to the Oklahoma Medical Society for practicing
medicine without a license! I am only suggesting possible medical diagnoses
to allow the owners to decide whether a vet is needed...)
