Sea Anemone Dying?

[sushi16666]

I have had a 90 gallon saltwater tank for over a year but recently decided to add a Sea Anemone. I believe that I have a Condylactus. When purchased it was larger than my hand. After four days it shrank down to nothing and I assumed it was dead. Then I noticed a small piece of silverfish it appeared to be eating. so I assumed it was hungry?? I fed it some of the target food. After an evening with the tank light off it appeared to be fine again. I turned the tank light back on and about an hour later it had shrunk again?? Am I doing something wrong? Is this normal?
I am a rookie so any information is helpful. Thanks

 

[buzz]

What do you mean "the target food?" What is it composed of?
All anemone's need strong lighting, and meaty foods such as squid, scallop, etc...

 

[sushi16666]

Target food = liquid food using the syringe. I think I have plenty of light but will check the wattage this evening. The tank was left byt he previous owners of my house and the only thing that I can seem to have success with is the clown fish that has been in there since I moved in. I have since purchased a puffer and a wrasse that seem to be doing well (thus far). I have the tank professionally cleaned but perhaps I am doing something wrong with feeding. I feed the fish silversides once a day and sometimes feed them flakes. Thanks!

 

[dindi]

Buzz is on the money here, I have 2 anenomes and feed them "silversides" I don't have the lighting like everyone wants but they are still doing awsome. They haven't moved or searched for other areas of my tanks. They will shrink sometimes and seem to disapear but if you look closely they are there. Just check your water, then let us know

 

[thomas712]

I disagree with Buzz and Dindi on feeding of the anemone's. I have three BTA's and with strong enough lighting they should do just fine with whatever they filter feed or get from a clownfish. I almost never feed mine and they do just great. That method might not fit all anemone's but I think that with a condy it would. If I had a carpent anemone then I think that I would feed it silversides. From what I have read most anemone's get what they need from you lighting.
Thomas

 

[dindi]

Thomas you're opinion is fine. I have 2 carpets and a condi, the condi loves to be fed silversides (it is very large, about 5 inches in diameter), the carpets like micro vert from Kent. Never saw my carpet anenomes eat any silversides thus far. They just kinda hang and wait. Tried silversides, didin't want, fed micro vert, loved it. Who can tell...I am buying new lighting this month for all my swf tanks....

 

[ophiura]

Different species of anemones have different feeding and light requirements. I would say that most anemones do certainly benefit from feeding, and they certainly eat (or in the case of hosting anemones, fed) in the wild. Carpet anemones are some of the most aggressive, and can and will eat sizable fish should the fish venture too close.
For most, I would say that the filter feeder foods are too fine. It just doesn't quite work with their anatomy, which consists of tiny harpoon like structures. It would seem to me that those particles are too fine to be captured, but if the carpet is happy, and doesn't want the larger food, then so be it. It might very well be satisfied with the lighting. However, don't be surprised if it eats something some day.
Condylactus anemones, which are from the Caribbean and are not typically a hosting anemone, are nonetheless some of the easiest to care for. IME, they are far more reliant on feeding than on lighting. These guys should be spot fed with MEATY things, silversides, krill, squid, etc. Quite often in fact- at least a couple of times a week.
They will "poop" by contracting and basically pumping all of the water out of their body, making them deflate. They will reinflate later. This happens in all anemones from time to time.
All other anemones in the trade, beginning with long tentacle and bubble (the easiest) to carpets and sebaes (some of the most difficult) need stronger lighting. They do most definitely benefit from feeding with meaty things, which again, they would get in the wild. Most people who report splitting of their anemones do provide them with food, unless they have clownfish, which may feed the anemone themselves. Indeed, this behavior helps to insure that the anemone stays healthy, and therefor remains a good and safe home for the fish.
However, never assume your clown is doing this, as they are notorious for shoving food into the anemone one minute, and running in to eat it themselves the next.
Simply, if the anemone is not hungry, and does not want the food, it will spit it back out. I think it is best to give them proper light, and proper feeding.
Also be sure to change out the light bulbs if they are more than a year old.