Ron Tremper

Ron Tremper (Center for Reptile and Amphibian Propagation, Responsible Herpetoculture Breeder, United States and Costa Rica). With a passion for reptiles and amphibians that spans over 63 years as a private hobbyist, zoo herpetologist, commercial breeder, and author my focus has been conservation through captive-breeding.

Field Experience: North America, Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Galapagos Islands, Hong Kong, Okinawa, Russia, Bulgaria, Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, England, Namibia, South Africa, and Cameroon.

First Breedings of Ron Tremper include:

• Catalina Island Rattleless Rattlesnake, Crotalus catalinensis – 1980
• New Zealand Green Gecko, Naultinus elegans – 1980
• Impressed Tortoise, Manouria impressa – 2004 (captive since March 1986)
• Argentine Horned Frog, Ceratophrys ornata – 1981 – without hormones
• African Bullfrog, Pyxicephalus adspersus – 1982 – injected with pituitary gland from Rana catesbiana

Significant importations to the United States include:

• New Caledonian Geckos – Rhacodactylus leachianus, R. chahoua, R. sarasinorum, R. trachyrhychus, Eurydactylodes vieillardi – 1985
• Cuban False Chameleons – Chamaeleolis chamaeleonides, C. barbatus – 1985
• Bearded Dragons – Pogana vitticeps, P. henrylawsoni – 1985
• Chameleons – captive-bred calyptratus – 1991 / C. parsonii, C. outstaleti, C. pardalis – 1988

Achievements in Leopard Geckos’ breeding:

• Recessive genes developed: Tremper Albino, Giant, Eclipse Eye, and Blue Amber Eye
• Polygenic traits developed: Striped, Reverse Striped, Patternless Stripe, Jungle, Bandit, and Emerine

Chamaeleo (Trioceros) tremperi was named in my honor by Petr Necas – 1994.