McDo Springtails for Sale: Rare Red and Yellow Philippine Springtails

Looking for a springtail you can actually see? McDo springtails (Philippine Neanuridae) are one of the most sought-after exotic springtails in the bioactive hobby. Native to the humid rainforests of the Philippines, they’re far larger and more colorful than common cleanup-crew species, with bodies that reach roughly 3 to 5 millimeters. If you want rare springtails for sale that double as a living display, McDo is a showstopper.

What makes McDo springtails special

McDo springtails have bright red bodies marked with a sharp yellow pattern, and their skin is covered in small fleshy bumps. That bold contrast is a natural warning signal, and it makes them easy to spot on moss, bark and leaf litter. Unlike most springtails, they’ve lost their jumping organ, so they move at a slow, steady pace and never leap out of the container when you open it. That makes them calm, easy to observe and ideal for naturalistic terrariums.

Please note that McDo is its own species. Other collector names, such as Santa Claus, Jollibee, Redford White and Thai Red Spiky, refer to different springtails, so make sure you’re ordering the one you want.

How to care for McDo springtails

McDo springtails belong to the Neanuridae family, which has a very specialized diet. They have no chewing mouthparts, so they can’t eat flakes or pellets. Instead they feed by sucking the liquid contents out of slime mold, which is why live slime mold is essential.

• Container: a container of about 350 ml or more works well for a starter colony.
• Substrate: use at least 2 cm of soil at the bottom. Heating the soil first (by scalding or baking) helps remove mites and other pests that compete with springtails.
• Moisture: keep the substrate damp but never bone dry or flooded. Standing water can drown them and also harms the slime mold.
• Ventilation: small colonies tend to do best with little or no ventilation, since too much airflow dries the substrate. Remove old food regularly.
• Food: feed live slime mold at least every two weeks, and more often if you can. Choose a gentle slime mold, and avoid aggressive types that can attack springtails while they’re hungry.
• Boosting growth: feeding the slime mold a nutritious food, including a calcium source, before offering it helps the springtails molt and breed.

With good care, a small starting group can grow into a large colony over a few months.

Shipped live to your door

Every order from Springtails Culture is carefully packed and shipped live, so your McDo culture arrives ready to settle in. Pair McDo with a base population of white springtails for a well-rounded bioactive cleanup crew.

Add McDo springtails to your cart today and bring a rare Philippine gem to your terrarium!