Hi. Routine is definitely the right word
. They thrive on routine. They learn when to expect something and where to find it. In terms of food you want to give the same mix every day. Ideally a good muesli mix with the correct amount of protein and plenty of variety. A lot of muesli mixes don’t have enough protein and can need that supplementing - so then you can either supplement with fresh food (eg chopped hard boiled egg and the occasional nut) or freeze dried shrimps eg. Or you can give two or three “pellets” daily as well as their muesli mix. But not just any pellets. Some pellets are not very healthy in content or might not have enough protein either. Science selective pellets are best if used. Personally I just give a muesli mix and fresh food to supplement the protein as they really love fresh human food - it’s a treat in itself. And only use science selective for older hamsters when they have problems eating hard food (eg soak the pellets to ensure nutrition).
It helps to feed at around the same time every day also, for routine - then they get in the habit of waking at the same time every day. Evening is better than morning so they can have a routine of out of cage time during your evening. I tend to feed about 9pm. But it varies with different hamsters - I’ve had super active hamsters who wake earlier and want to be out so then I feed earlier.
In terms of treats I give an “extra” every day as well as their muesli mix and their veg. And put them in various places in the cage. I have a large fish the food goes on rather than scattering it. It’s big enough to forage from. And put the veg in a different part of the cage on a separate little dish on a shelf - the hamster expects it there and it also encourages a shy hamster to come out and cross the cage (they can’t resist the smell of fresh veg). But only a tiny amount of veg no bigger than their ear. They eat very tiny amounts and will eat it straight away rather than hoard it.
The extras are sometimes the fresh food for protein supplement - on another dish again (eg a jar lid) or sometimes a few scattered pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds.
A chew stick they should have all the time to help keep their teeth trim and just replace as needed.
Feeding time and bonding time can coincide. Feeding time brings them out and that is also a good time for out of cage time in a safe area. Bonding and interaction is best done out of the cage or enclosure. The enclosure is “their “ territory. Out of the cage they behave differently.
Female Syrians can be extremely active - even maverick- and regular boredom breakers (cardboard is good) can be needed - things for them to shred - eg cardboard egg boxes or toilet roll parcels . Their behaviour can be different when they are on heat as well (every four four days). It can be interesting to keep a behaviour diary to see what she does on various days and find a pattern of what she likes when - or just observe. But they invariably like to be out of the cage for playpen time or free roaming (I only let mine free roam once they are hand tame). And of course it needs to be in a completely hamster proof area.
Spot cleaning - depends on their habits! And your set up. It’s only their pee that is unhygienic really. And baby hamsters can pee in their sleeping area but soon get used to housekeeping and keeping their pee separate from their sleeping area and hoard (with exceptions!). So you can spot clean the pee as and when needed - if you can’t smell anything then don’t worry too much. Maybe once a week. For cage cleaning I do a third or half clean maybe every three to four months with spot cleaning the pee in between. That just entails replacing about half the substrate in the third or half being cleaned. Ie removing all of it in tar section, wiping the bottom and then adding new and replacing clean old substrate on top again so it smells familiar. Other items like the wheel or ceramic items you can do as and when in between . Most cage utensils don’t need cleaning that often. If the hamster pees in the wheel you can give it the occasional wipe and then occasionally a full wash. After a full wash they sometimes ignore the wheel as it doesn’t have their scent any more but you can tempt them back in with a piece of smelly food like cucumber or a tiny bit of cheddar cheese.
I’m sure others have tips as well. Mine have had mini forage boxes that I give when out of the cage for them to rummage in. A shoebox fully if shredded cardboard with treats hidden in can be fun for them as well.
