Quote Originally Posted by littleindiangirl View Post
Many visual morphs can be described as the inhibition of certain workings and traits in the cells. Whether it is the over production of pigment, the inhibition of certain pigments, or the placement of pigments during embryo development, they are most often "stopping" the cells from working and doing their jobs properly, resulting in our morphs.

These are very often passed down through simple recessives or co-dominant inheritance. Making it a genetic mutation (disorder).

If it is an attribute that is detrimental to the survival of the animal and bodily function, and is inherited through simple Mendelian understanding, I would call it a genetic disease.

They are all "disorders", but the severity to how they inhibit the natural and perfect workings in the animal warrants a different label I think. I could be wrong about the labels, but that's how I see it.
Genetic Mutation- (genetics) any event that changes genetic structure; any alteration in the inherited nucleic acid sequence of the genotype of an organism

Genetic Disorder- genetic disorder
n. A pathological condition caused by an absent or defective gene or by a chromosomal aberration. Also called hereditary disease, inherited disorder.

Source: Dictionary.com

Morphs are mutations, no doubt, but I would be hesitant to call it a disorder. As stated above, disorders are usually detrimental to the animal or "pathological", which is usually disease.

As of now Spider don't do anything that normal balls don't do, besides a little wobble. If it doesn't affect the life span, feeding, breeding habits, then to me it is not a disorder yet. We also havn't been keeping spiders long enough to determine if that is the case or not.