jmbike11,
In my opinion,the best favor we can do for ourselves and our fish is buy a water test kit. Vinny has asked above about the water parameters tested by such kits and they are, in my opinion, a necessity. You can get one at
Dr. Foster and Smith or your favorite online dealer for about $20, or in a pet store for about $30.
I don't test my water all that often, but whenever something goes wrong (e.g. fish dying or falling ill), it can be invaluable information. It's also useful to use before adding fish to ensure your tank has been properly cycled, and to monitor the cycle itself.
If you are concerned the fish was sucked up in the filter and didn't just end up there, bscman's suggestion of adding a sponge to the filter is a great one. Not to mention, it will help cut down on filter maintenance by having this "pre-filter" on the intake.