It does look like scale rot to me. I see why many went to a beginning of a burn, with that eliminated.
It is also a possible irritation, orcid bark is often a mix of a bunch of things and may have a variety of different barks inside. plants are animals and they often have offensive and defensive 'behaviours' like everything else. It is a possibility that the snake is reacting to something inside that batch of bark. You may want to consider a switch to paper for a while and see if it clears up. If humidity is an issue (paper is hydroscopic) you might try coco coir instead. it is inert and similar in humidity keeping characteristics.
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