Or maybe what I might be looking for. Thank you!

Jessica,

The only pest you need to worry about on root balls of succulents, for the most part, are root mealy bugs. They're quite different than their above-ground cousins (there are hundreds of species, apparently). They are easily seen because when you depot a rootbound plant and notice what look like spots that have ash smeared on the surface of the ball, that's the root mealy. Clean the old soil off, treat with an insecticide (I just sprayed the roots with isopropyl alcohol) and repot in clean soil. When you have large collections that are in pots you might want to use a systemic soil soak. When I had a collection in San Diego, it was a constant battle of the succulent Asclepiads versus the mealies, and the nasty systemics were called for. Up here, I've bought Sempervivums with root mealies. However, IME, you don't see these pests on plants in the ground - maybe they cannot live through cold weather.

Ok thank you, I'm having a problem cleaning the dirt from the root ball tho. I've tried rinsing, then dried it and still can't get the dirt from the roots with out harming the roots. It's a pretty tight root ball. I'm thinking it might be ok, the only thing I see is what looks like small pieces of shiny metal but it might just be the old soil.

Jessica,

If you can't dislodge the ball's dirt with a blast of a hose (if available), let the ball soak for 1/2 hour, then dig in. Alternatively, cut the bottom third of the root ball, that's right, just slice it off. Root pruning can greatly benefit a plant (plus if it's in perfect pot, you can repot it in the same pot). Either way, let dry for a day or so, then repot. Don't water the plant for a few days afterward.