Bill Shenefelt
My name is Bill
Shenefelt. Just like many of my
relatives, my nickname is Shene. I
started with tropical fish at about the age of 5 (about 1948) when my father
got me a 5 gallon tank with some white cloud mountain fish, guppies and
Swordtails. I spent most of my Saturdays
at a local aquarium shop. At about 10, I
fell in love with some Aphyosemion australe.
I saved for 2 years and got a pair ($5 was a lot in the early 1950’s). Did not breed them, but the next killie, a
pair of Rivulus cylindraeceus gave me eggs and fry. I did work with some chichlids, betas, and
some other egg layers, but the australe haunted me. Had to stop when I went to college, even
though I commuted, but after graduating, I got married started a family and got
a house. Once again got into fish for my
daughter (good excuse-fish for the kid-ha). By about 1967 I found a fellow who had
australe and joined the AKA. Started
into killies once again. After about 7
years I got too busy with work, army reserves and family and the fish took a
back seat. While keeping the killies, I did manage through Gerry Lofstead to
meet Hank and we all went an early 1970’s AKA convention. Had a great time. Met George Maier,