Leopard Geckos: The Next Generations

Leopard Geckos: The Next Generations by Ron Tremper

Book Review by Jennifer Greene

For the serious Leopard Gecko keeper and/or breeder, there is no book that should be considered more essential to their book collection than the first Herpetoculture of Leopard Geckos book put out by Ron Tremper, Phillipe de Vosjoli, and Roger Klingenberg. This book, Leopard Geckos: The Next Generation is the most current version, with necessary updates to information about morphs and husbandry where needed. In addition, this most recent version is also available as an e-book/app, which includes any and all updates as they are added. This review only covers the printed book, and not the e-book.

This new addition covers all vital information needed to appropriately care for your gecko(s), whether you have one or one hundred of them. There are short, concise chapters in the front for basic care to get you started, and more in depth chapters further into the book. There is also a chapter devoted to commercial breeding, and important information to consider when embarking on such an endeavor.

The chapters with the most new information, and the most valuable to the keeper just getting started breeding, are the chapters discussing morphs, genetics, and the genetic makeup of most morphs available on the market today. It is also interesting to read about where certain mutations came from, who produced them first, and what they bred to create them. Vitally important is the information about specific morphs – Tremper lists nearly all of the currently available morphs, as well as their method of inheritance. This information is extremely useful, especially when creating your breeding plans and projects for the next season. In particular I was happy to read the section describing polygenetic traits, as it was well expressed and should help clear up the confusion I see in many new breeders when they are first learning about the possibility of polygenetic morphs.

Ultimately, if you are new to Leopard Gecko keeping, looking to get into breeding, and do not have the first edition Herpetoculture of Leopard Geckos book, purchase the physical book and read it thoroughly. You will find the information extremely useful and beneficial! If you already own the first edition of the book, instead consider the digital version!