It's likely a combination of all the factors you have listed - the two main are that the tank is not cycled and that the TSN has just been rehomed.
The water's cloudy because the tank is cycling. That's a known stage in the cycling process.
The white growth appears to reside where the maxillary barbel should be, which is absent altogether. Since it is not inflamed, I'd not worry about it too much yet. This fish is a runt, the usual cheap refuse from farming operations from South America or a poorly produced and raised one from SE Asia. So defects and poor genes are expected.
Just because you lucked out with the dovii and maybe other tanks doesn't mean that your practice of starting up a new tank is safe. From what you told us, it is not. Most of us have committed this error. Normal cycling time is 4-6 weeks. Quick start or other similar concoctions I believe can reduce the time by 2x, maybe 3x but not by 10x-100x at all.
There is no point in feeding the fish while there is ammonia and nitrite in the tank...; IMHO even if you detoxify both with Prime or ammonia with ammo-lock and nitrite with table salt.
The fish can be without food for several weeks easy. I'd take care of the water first - ammonia and nitrite must be at zero ppm at all times - then start feeding conservatively. I'd not add any tank mates whatsoever until things are sorted and the fish are doing well.
In good water, baby TSN tend to stay hidden. Their confidence will grow with their size.
The water's cloudy because the tank is cycling. That's a known stage in the cycling process.
The white growth appears to reside where the maxillary barbel should be, which is absent altogether. Since it is not inflamed, I'd not worry about it too much yet. This fish is a runt, the usual cheap refuse from farming operations from South America or a poorly produced and raised one from SE Asia. So defects and poor genes are expected.
Just because you lucked out with the dovii and maybe other tanks doesn't mean that your practice of starting up a new tank is safe. From what you told us, it is not. Most of us have committed this error. Normal cycling time is 4-6 weeks. Quick start or other similar concoctions I believe can reduce the time by 2x, maybe 3x but not by 10x-100x at all.
There is no point in feeding the fish while there is ammonia and nitrite in the tank...; IMHO even if you detoxify both with Prime or ammonia with ammo-lock and nitrite with table salt.
The fish can be without food for several weeks easy. I'd take care of the water first - ammonia and nitrite must be at zero ppm at all times - then start feeding conservatively. I'd not add any tank mates whatsoever until things are sorted and the fish are doing well.
In good water, baby TSN tend to stay hidden. Their confidence will grow with their size.
