Holes in the eyes of my Oscar

I noticed a white patch on the one of its eyes and when I looked closer the other eyes was burrowed into, There is no lens, I don't know what's happening with them, All others are showing similar signs

 

What are the parameters of your tank, nitrates and pH in particular?
This fish shouldn't be laying down like that

 

The parameters are normal,
They do lay down occasionally and swim back up right away. especially at night they seem to do this a lot.

 

What do you class as normal?

 

It's an albino. Due to the lack of pigments in the iris you can see into the eye. That's why albinos always have eyes that are perceived as red. I'm very sure this is connected to the albinism and not from a disease.

 

What do you class as normal?

PH - 7.8
Ammonia 0 ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 40 ppm

 

Your pH and nitrate levels are too high for Oscars. Cichlids in general hate nitrates.

 

From what I know Oscar fish prefer a water pH of around 7.2. pH shoul remain between 6 and 8 at all times.
Mine is between a 7.4 and 7.8

Can this cause them to loose their eyes, they are not able to escape the net so they really are blind

 

From what I know Oscar fish prefer a water pH of around 7.2. pH shoul remain between 6 and 8 at all times.
Mine is between a 7.4 and 7.8

Can this cause them to loose their eyes, they are not able to escape the net so they really are blind

It will be the nitrates, I once moved a pair of full-grown Oscars and I never got them back into the main tank in time and they went blind, I put it down to the nitrates in the holding tank.

 

It will be the nitrates, I once moved a pair of full-grown Oscars and I never got them back into the main tank in time and they went blind, I put it down to the nitrates in the holding tank.

I do 60-80% water changes weekly.
I have a gravel substrate which I don't clean weekly, do you think this might be the reason for higher nitrates. I thought 40ppm is in the acceptable range ?

 

I do 60-80% water changes weekly.
I have a gravel substrate which I don't clean weekly, do you think this might be the reason for higher nitrates. I thought 40ppm is in the acceptable range ?

I don't know where the nitrates are coming from, but Cichlids in general hate nitrates.

 

Yes, cichlids are sensitive to water quality long term but honestly: No, Nitrates have for sure not blinded your fish and under 50mg/l will not be in any way acutely dangerous. If that was possible this would show up all the time. Yet, it does not.
Scientific studies show no acute danger from nitrates until high values of 200mg/l, while longterm damage is taken at 60-80mg/l over MONTHS.

Itiwhetu, I'm sorry to say so, but sometimes you say things that just factually don't hold up.

 

Yes, cichlids are sensitive to water quality long term but honestly: No, Nitrates have for sure not blinded your fish and under 50mg/l will not be in any way acutely dangerous. If that was possible this would show up all the time. Yet, it does not.
Scientific studies show no acute danger from nitrates until high values of 200mg/l, while longterm damage is taken at 60-80mg/l over MONTHS.

Itiwhetu, I'm sorry to say so, but sometimes you say things that just factually don't hold up.

The most probable cause of this problem is water quality, and the most likely water quality issue is nitrates.

 

The most probable cause of this problem is water quality, and the most likely water quality issue is nitrates.

Ammonia (in high pH) and Nitrite (in low pH) are by far more problematic and I can tell you from experience, nitrate does not cause any direct harm unless in unlikely high concentrations.
And then there are dozens of other possible contaminants more likely to cause such harm.
I don't see a point discussing this further with you.

Can this cause them to loose their eyes, they are not able to escape the net so they really are blind

No. It can't cause it.

But I'd like to add that albino and leucistic animals have a very high rate of genetically caused blindness.