St Andrews Aquarium has appealed for donations to cover the cost of looking after its inhabitants while it is closed to the public.
The Fife visitor attraction needs the cash to look after more than 1,000 animals, including meerkats, penguins and a bearded dragon, as well as its population of fish.
They still require food, heat and light while the lockdown is in place which, along with the keepers who take care of them, costs around £300 a day. A donation page has been set up to encourage the public to donate from £5.
Owner John Mace said: "Like so many businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic, we have done our level best to comply with the lockdown restrictions but, unlike so many venues, we can't simply close the doors and walk away. Our animals require exactly the same level of care and nourishment that they always get and that means we have to keep a team of keepers in position, as well as pay for the ongoing costs of heat, light and food. Those costs are beginning to really mount up."
He added: "We've been doing our bit to keep the public entertained during the lockdown, with regular videos of the animals. We now ask if the public can help us out a little - £5 might not feel like much but every little donation will help the animals.
"By way of saying thank you, when we are all through this, we plan to do something very special for those who can help us out at this time."
