The species has been known to spawn both seasonally and year-round depending on the location of the spawning population. It has been suggested that Diadema setosum populations are temperature-dependent in their spawning seasonalities. Temperatures higher than  have been cited as a possible spawning cue.
The species spawns seasonally or continuously based on the population's location. It has been hypothesized that Diadema setosum populations' spawning cycles are linked to temperature fluctuations. High temperatures above  may serve as a spawning stimulus.