We've had our ball python, Mocha, for about a year now since we adopted her. While checking on her last night, I noticed that there are a LOT of tiny bugs in her tank. We freaked out at first, but after doing some online research I really don't think that they're mites:
  • While tiny (maybe about 2mm long?), they still seem much bigger than the mites I've seen in pictures.
  • They're light grey, not dark brown/black, and their bodies aren't shaped like mites.
  • I seemed to find them everywhere but on the snake herself. I picked her up and inspected her, and found nothing on her. I even watched bugs bump into Mocha, then turn around and run away, multiple times.

So they don't seem like mites. I think they're just some bugs that came in from outside and liked the moist environment. Is there still a chance that they'll harm the snake? We've read up on how to take care of mite infestations, and we can do that if necessary, I'm just wondering whether it's worth worrying about.

In case it's relevant, here's our setup. That's Eco Earth substrate and sphagnum moss. All of the wood pieces and the rock came with the snake when we adopted her, so I don't know their source - but I do know that this is the first we've seen these bugs, so I don't think they hitched a ride on these pieces.

I tried to get some pictures of the bugs themselves last night, but my cell phone camera is no substitute for a macro lens. I'll try again tonight and post pics if I can get any good ones.