* Daily: Spot clean the cage by removing any wet or soiled areas of bedding.
* Weekly: Completely change the bedding, removing all old bedding and replacing it with fresh, clean bedding.
* As needed: Change the bedding more often if it becomes heavily soiled, smells bad, or your hamster is particularly messy.
Here are some additional factors to consider:
* Hamster species: Some hamster species are messier than others. Syrian hamsters tend to be cleaner than dwarf hamsters.
* Cage size: Smaller cages will require more frequent bedding changes.
* Type of bedding: Some bedding types, like paper bedding, may need to be changed more often than others, like aspen shavings.
Always check your hamster's bedding for signs of wetness, odor, or excessive droppings. If you notice any of these, change the bedding immediately.