Over 40 different color morphs of this species are dispersed throughout the lake, ranging from dark green to flame red and yellow.

[2] T. moorii is a maternal mouthbrooder, so eggs are fertilized and young are carried in the mouth of the female while they hatch and develop.

After spawning, the female leaves the male's territory to occupy a small unclaimed area for the mouthbrooding period.

Although their territories often overlap, individuals of the three species do not usually interact due to the dietary differences that exist.

In observed interactions between specifically P. orthognathus and T. moorii individuals with adjacent territories, the larger fish attacked the smaller one regardless of species, and no displays occurred.

[3] T. moorii broods show genetic monogamy, with all eggs having been fertilized by a single male.

[7] Spawning occurs on a rock surface, with the female laying up to 20 eggs which are bright orange in color.

Eggs are incubated for 30 to 35 days, and when the young emerge from their mother's mouth, they are advanced enough in their physical development to live like adults.

T. moorii females have unusually high parental investment in their offspring since they produce large eggs and buccally feed their young.

The mother effectively starves herself during the mouthbrooding period, since all nourishment she takes in goes to feed the young.

These benefits are very advantageous to the young since they lower their predation risk and size is usually the determining factor in conflicts over resources.

Males' lips on average tend to be more off-white, as well, due to their constant lip-locking aggression.

In the wild, blunthead cichlids are found in shallow bays and in the upper reaches of the lake over rocky reefs where the water is quite illuminated, because this is where the algae and other vegetable matter grow most thickly.

[citation needed] The specific name honours the discoverer of this species, John Edmund Sharrock Moore (1870–1947).