welcome to the forum! im a bit busy atm so i skimmed your post; ill offer my best help but the others on this forum are just as informative.
88° F ambient is way too high. keep it around 80° F. your snake is probably soaking due to low humidity and being too hot.
use sphagnum moss to boost humidity in lieu of a humidity-trapping substrate.
feed in the enclosure. there is 0 benefit to moving the snake to feed it.
how are you treating for mites? are you taking preventative measures? the life cycle of a mite - from egg to adult - is at least 30 days; you need to continue treatment and keep the snake on paper/paper towel for a minimum of 30 days. also, please research proper quarantine procedures even if you only have one snake.
also, why would you buy a snake that could potentially be covered in bugs which threaten the life of your animal? mites are not a joke or something to be taken lightly. i would never buy a snake that potentially has mites.
you mention one hide over the UTH: ball pythons require 2 identical hides for optimum security. please get 2 hides, as well as clutter in the form of leaf vines and leafy decor.
"loves to explore" is not something i want to hear from a new owner with a new beep, and sitting out in the open is not a good sign. are you regulating all your heat sources with an electronic control? ALL heat sources MUST be regulated, ZERO exception. you can burn your snake to death with an unregulated UTH or bulb.
additionally, could you post a pic of your setup? that will help us help you better.
again, WELCOME!!!
EDIT: if you have any heat source(s) that is unregulated, PLEASE unplug them immediately for your safety and for the snake!
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