The Orange Sea Pen is found in the north eastern Pacific Ocean in the deeper water off the coast of Washington State, in Puget Sound and up into British Columbia, Canada. It is a colony of polyps working together, some becoming anchors, others becoming the stem and others collect plankton for food and producing eggs and sperm for reproduction.
They live in deeper water where the turbulence and currents are not strong enough to uproot them from the sand. Just as a fern sways about in the breeze, these organisms move about in the water currents.
The orange variety 
a yellow variety
There is also a yellow variety and a spiky version. Colonies have also been found around Singapore and Indonesia.
Small sea dwellers can find shelter around the sea pen and in its branches. The Sea Pen can live up to ten years. Some people have succeeded in growing them in their personal aquarium but it is difficult to maintain the correct conditions and food.
When they are provoked, they can emit a greenish blue light to startle their attackers. There is one attacker that is not bothered by this. Just like land plants are ravaged by slugs, there is a similar sea slug called an Armina that eats the sea pen.
Doug, I read your post with my mouth wide open. At first, since these sway with the ocean currents, I was reminded of the kelp forests off South Africa. As in the movie, My Octopus Teacher. Wow! Thanks for a fascinating sea tour.
Sorry I didn’t get my own video of them moving. I loved the video or the Octopus Teacher. 👩🏻🎓
Wow, what a tour of the underwater world. I am fascinated by Sea Pens now. They really do look like writing utensils. But those slugs eating the sea pen. There was a certain horror movie quality to that. I kept hoping that the slugs would suffer from an advanced case of indigestion but… apparently not…
I was impressed by the close up of the mouth and the crunching sounds in the video.
Fascinating, Doug! They look like feathers and remind me of the Three Musketeers’ hats. 😀
You do have an artistic flair.👩🏼🎨🎨
All for one…
Ripley’s Aquarium is not only a fun place to visit but children (and adults) can also learn about the different creatures. Lia loves it!