Born and raised in NYC, Dr. Tepper graduated from York College of CUNY in 1971. He then went to Europe to study veterinary medicine, graduating with honors from the Universite de Liege in Brussels, Belgium in 1976. Returning that year to NYC, he began practicing and held a special interest in birds and exotic animals. After many requests from clients, he opened the Long Island Fish Hospital in 1998 to care for the health of pet fish. Dr. Tepper has served as Treasurer of the International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine, as an Officer on the Executive Board of the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association, and as a member of the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians, Association of Avian Veterinarians, the AVMA and state and local veterinary associations. In 2012, Dr. Tepper was named one of five Fellows of the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Tepper has been certified for aquatic animal care by the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association.

      With a special interest in ponds, water gardens and koi, Dr. Tepper developed a phytoremedial device for water quality improvement and received a U.S. patent for this invention. Known as “Pond’toons” , these are currently in use in ponds, water gardens and in quarantine and treatment tanks for koi. Dr. Tepper has authored many papers on fish health and pondkeeping. He has been featured in articles in the New York Times Sunday magazine, the New York Times Long Island section and several feature articles on pond care in Tropical Fish Hobbyist magazine. He has appeared on television on the CBS Evening News, News 12 Long Island and the Family Pet.