hi i just acquired my first snake this past weekend, it is a 2 1/2 yr old female (i think) ball python. i adopted it from someone who no longer had the time to care for it as much as they would have liked.

she is well tempered and i don't really have any problems w/her at all so far. however, i noticed something disturbing last nite as i was watching her.

currently the substrate used in her tank is a forest fir or something to that nature and when i looked closely last nite, i noticed these small insects jumping around down in the substrate (there's currently about 2 in or so of substrate).

these insects appeared white/greyish and was an oval shape almost the size of 2 periods.

i believe these are too small (and too many of them) to be ticks, yet they appear to also be too big to be mites.

i also inspected the python closely and did not see any swarming on her (checked mostly her head).

any idea what this could be and what i should do?? any input would be greatly appreciated, thank you in advance.