Can anyone id this i think its a tumor?

[Matas.w]

How everyone doing unfortunately I found my long nose hawk at the bottom of my tank today with this huge brown ball/mass ripping out of his gills I'm hoping it was just a tumor and not anything els any help would be great!

 

[vetteguy53081]

How everyone doing unfortunately I found my long nose hawk at the bottom of my tank today with this huge brown ball/mass ripping out of his gills I'm hoping it was just a tumor and not anything els any help would be great!

It does appear to be and could have begun as a cyst or product of liver issue but more suspected- tuberculosis
How long did this develop as this does not develop overnight

 

[Matas.w]

I noticed it maybe a few days ago but he's been struggling with swimming for 2 or 3 weeks now I thought it was the new power heads could be too strong

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Sorry to see. This looks to be behind the pectoral fin and gills, so more where the stomach is located. Tumors growth slowly over time. In these cases, they can grow under the fish's skin and then erupt, but you should still see gradual growth. This could also be a bacterial abscess that broke through the skin. Either way, I wouldn't expect this to be contagious to other fish.

Jay