Does Soaking always = mites?

[snakesRkewl]

Post pictures all you want but that is not going to change my opinion. If a ball python is provided with a proper environment then it shouldn't need to soak. This is not a blanket statement. It is my opinion based on my personal experience with this species. Maybe the way you keep you snakes makes them feel the need to soak prior to shed. Maybe the overall humidity in your particular climate is lower. All I know is my snakes have never soaked and all have perfect sheds.

This is still a blanket statement made with your experience with 5 ball pythons.
Like people, not all ball pythons do the same things, and or act the same way.
If a ball python is in 50% humidity and lower, and is going into shed, and you provided it a bowl to climb into, many will soak. Maybe yours don't, but you can't say others won't, it's just not true.
If your humidity is like most of my tubs, and closer to 65% to 70% then no, most won't soak.