What do Polyphaga aegyptica -- egyptian desert roach eat

[Takumaku]

I was always curious about this specie, so I decided to get a few to try them out. My issue is trying to find out exactly what they eat.

My Polyphaga aegyptica show no interest in carrots and roach food (chicken feed, vitamins, etc.) so it appears they are specialized feeders. I've asked some fellow hobbyists, but it appears that none of the hobbyists have any idea what Polyphaga aegyptica eat based on the different responses that I've been given. I been told a range of items to try with nothing exact. Currently, I'm trying dry leaf-litter (sweet gum leaves) and fungus (mushroom), but like the carrots, Polyphaga are showing no interest.

 

[Canfire]

rat & mice pellets and carrot. Other pellets can be fed, dog & cat, rabbit & guinea pig, Rep-Cal Cricket food etc but the ‘fresh’ carrot is important for moisture. No water is supplied. Provide enough carrot that your colony will devour in two days. Remove any uneaten carrot at this time or earlier if the carrot starts to ‘go off’.

taken from: http://www.herpshop.com.au/CareSheets/FeaderRoach.html

**this is my first time helping someone with thier pets!!!!**

 

[IguanaMama]

er... you gave the caresheet for the lobster roach, a roach that hails from the carribean--tropical. The question was about care for a desert species. This relates how? :?

 

[Canfire]

Damn. I thought I had it.

 

[Takumaku]

nope, try again... Through trial and error, I'm slowly understanding what P. aegyptica eat. For example, they won't touch carrots, but moistened sweet gum and remoisted "dryed peppermint leaves" they will.

 

[Thoth]

Very unscientific but since they were Egyptin roaches I asked my parents what there experiences witht he roaches were growing up (you should be eternally grateful for the hassle I had to go through with my parents wondering why I wanted to know about roaches) Basically they aid they'd be found the dry goods like beans, rice, bulgur wheat, et c. So you try one of those or dried potato flakes or even fresh potatoes.

Strange they are fussy eaters considering their scientific name.

there is also this thread about Polyphaga sp.
http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?p=684331