How often do you have to clean a 40 gallon tank?

Question

Right now I have a 20 gallon, but I'm trying to convince my mom to get me a 40 gallon for my birthday. A big thing is how much more it would cost in bedding- right now I clean the cage once a week. (Every Sunday; I once had to leave it until Monday, but I spot cleaned every day that week.) Could I clean the cage once every two weeks (with spot cleaning every 2-3 days or even every day) if I had a 40 gallon? Would it be as healthy for my hamster?
How about if I cleaned half of it every week? I feel that would be less stressful for my hamster, and easier for me. (As in, I clean the left half one week and the right half the other.)
Also, could someone give me the average dimensions for a 40 gallon tank? Let's say I walk into Petco or Petsmart, and look at the average 40 gallon that they have; just a big tank, nothing special. How big would it be? Please include height.
Is this a good lid, what's it like in practice (it seems to be different from the smaller sizes), and does it fit securely? (I would buy clips to hold it closed, but they don't work unless the lid is the right size.)
And if anyone could let me know when the next dollar a gallon sale at Petco is, or when any sale that includes tanks is, that would be greatly appreciated.
Please don't tell me to buy a wire cage; he's lived in a tank his entire life, from the pet store to the tank he's in right now, and in the US it really is just not an affordable option to buy one that's big enough. I love the Hamster Heaven and the rest just as much as all you UK people do, but it's over a $100 just for shipping. 
He's a male Syrian hamster, around 9-10 months old. This would be his second transition since I got him in late May. (He was in a 10 gallon for a few weeks when I first got him.)

Nameless · Accepted Answer

I had a 55 gallon which was 576 square inches for 2 dwarf hamsters. I had about 6 inches of bedding. I changed it twice a week and even then it didn't smell and the bedding was not wet. So depending on how much bedding you use you can go 2 weeks. 
A 40 breeder is 36x18x16 (LxWxH) in or 648 square inches. A 40 long is 48x12x16 or 576 square inches. 
Petco/petsmart should have lids that fit.

Anonymous · Answer

I'm sorry I kinda skimmed this because it's really long but it sounds like you have hamsters in a 20 gallon tank and you want a 40 gallon but bedding costs a lot. Okay if you spot clean it which means you just take out any dirty litter and stuffs like once a day so you only are removing what you have to and you should clean it like once every two weeks. But I really don't think hamsters would need that big of a tank. I have a three foot snake in a 10 gallon, and my pet rat is in a 20...hmm now that I say it I should probably swap their tanks. but if you want a cheap tank I always find them at thrift shops I got my 20 gallon for $5 when at the store it would be $40. and for a lid I just put bricks on top

Who aren&#39;t you? · Answer

A 40 gallon tank is 36x18 on the base, and 16 inches high. It is also very heavy and hard to move. A strong adult could move it by themselves, but it wouldn't be a good idea. At Petco I know the regular price of a 40 gallon is 115 bucks and a cover for it is 25 bucks.

The issue I'd have with cleaning half of a tank... you can change out bedding, but you aren't going to want to use an actual cleaner to clean anything that has soaked through the bedding. You still are going to want to do that occasionally, not just change bedding.

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How often do you have to clean a 40 gallon tank?

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