Gerbil sick from bedding?

Question
I have finally linked that evertime I clean all the cages, one of my little gerbils gets sick. He usually just sits still, a bit bloated, jumps a little from time to time, however still eats, drinks, and runs through the tubes with no problem. Almost as if he has a belly ache. Here's my cleaning routine: I was all the cages with an anti-bacterial dishwashing liquid and sponge. I rinse everything with hot water VERY well to make sure there is no soap residue (hopefully). This also goes for their water bottle. I usually only rinse out there bottle daily and refill it. I fill the cage with CareFresh Pet Bedding (expensive) which is that environmentally/biodegradable stuff with odor control. I also add to the cage some toilet paper rolls to chew. His brother has not yet been sick. My thoughs are he might be reacting to the CareFresh bedding. He never got sick with the regular wood shavings. This is the fourth time that I remember him getting sick, and it was only since I've been using this bedding. However, I don't remember him getting sick when I switched over. Just the over the past several months. Any thoughts?

Facts: Mongolian - 1 1/2 years old

Housing: 3 cages (Connected: Glass Aquarium, 2 metal cages)

PS: "Tom" is normally very active and can't hold him for too long.  

Answer
Hello! Hmmm... may I suggest that you buy some vitamin drops for your gerbil. You know what he could just be stressed with the bed changings because he comes to fresh clean cage and he can't smell where his bed is or anything. Everytime I clean my hamsters cage I put aside a handful or so of the old bedding that he would sleep in and put it back when I cleaned the cage out. I do know that small animals can sometimes get stressed out when the area they sleep in is constantly cleaned. My hamster has a special type of fluff bedding that I only change every 3-4 weeks. That way he won't get so stressed out and will recognize a familiar smell in his cage. Try putting some of the old bedding back into the clean cage everytime you clean it and see if that helps your gerbil. If it doesn't switch back to the bedding that you were using before. Carefresh is a great bedding!! I will be switching to soft sorbent or carefresh myself bedding as soon as I use up all my aspen bedding. :-) Good luck and keep me posted!!