Archers would rather jump for thier food than spit. If they jump to capture their prey it's almost a sure thing they'll eat the prey. If they spit, they odds are likely that another member of the shoal will actually capture/consume the prey. So in order for them to spit, the food item will need to be outside of their jumping range. That's just a feeding fact that may or may not be useful in your quest for spitting.
The second factor to consider is how far they can actually shoot accurately. A full grown adult, at 10-12", is accurate up to 5'. Do the math and scale down, is it possible you're placing the food too far away?
They'll spit sooner or later. Maybe they're not healthy? You can tell a lot about how archers are feeling based on their coloration. I'd also recommend a varied diet of frozen foods, live insects, and carnivore pellets if possible.