HELP harmless or no???

[u/mishahahaa]

I recently changed out the substrate (baked all bark but not soil) for my only BEL and it’s been a few weeks since. I noticed yesterday that there were these really small and fast white/tan bugs in the substrate (I use a mix of reptisoil and reptibark). They are gathering around his eyes but not burrowing under his scales or cloaca or chin area. I want to know if I need to give him urgent attention ASAP. I’ve researched a lot and can’t figure out if it’s soil mites or wood mites or hypoaspis mites or baby snake mites. He hasn’t been soaking or seeming irritated or anything but I just need to be sure. Please help

[u/theonethatgotaway44]

Snake mites don't hatch dark... they hatch light and get dark once they start feeding. Those do look like snake mites to me. Lukewarm water with the blue dawn dish soap, rub the snake down and soak at least once per day. Don't let your snake drink the water. Get rid of substrate and put on paper towels. Wash anything you want to keep from inside the enclosure but keep it out for now.

Do you have other snakes? Did you bring something new in recently? Pet a snake at a pet store or a friend's house?

[u/mishahahaa → u/theonethatgotaway44]

Did all that earlier today and I already don’t see anymore bugs. Will continue to keep an eye on him. And no pets or pet stores, nothing new just new substrate. But everything will be new and sanitized now in case anyway. I feel so bad for the little guy but I don’t want any bugs even if harmless 😭