fish sucked up into intake

So yesterday I noticed my pump wasn't putting out its normal force so I unhooked it and took it out to take a look at it.  Sure enough something was stuck in the intake.  I thought it was a snail at first.  I have a couple snails without shells I"ve noticed lately which I don't understand how that happened.  Then when I got it out I realized it was "Sunshine".  My yellow watchman goby!  It must have just happened, cause I'd just seen her out feeding.  Maybe it happened overnight.  It was weird though, usually she only goes up to the surface when I'm in the process of re-aquascaping and I'm disturbing her peace and she gets nervous I think.  This time I wasn't doing anything out of the ordinary.  Weird!!  I was proud of myself though that I figured out the problem.  And now I'm kinda excited about getting a new fish. Have to start doing some looking/research to see what I want  Sunshine only came out a few minutes a day during feeding time and otherwise hid under the rocks so I can get one that's more visible now.  I'm just sad for her "mate".  I have a pistol shrimp in there too I'd gotten since they like to pair up.  I've had to check once in a while to make sure he's still alive cause I never see him, but he just spends all his time under the rock too.  
Last weekend I got a half dozen red legged crabs, 2 red foot snails (I love em), and 4 turbo snails.  Only 1 has died.  The snails are doing great at keeping my back wall clean.  Takes away from me having to work at it.  Go snails..... do my dirty work for me, I love it  

 

Thanks for the strainer info.  I don't know why I hadn't put one on mine.  I just went in and dug through a bunch of little pieces I have in a baggy under my tank and I found a strainer that fit the pump intake.  I've got it on now, so unfortunatley it can't save what I've already lost, but at least it won't happen again.  Thank you!! 

 

Yeah I suppose that would be quite the shocker!! 
thanks everyone, yeah it sucks to lose fish.  I think I"m most worried about telling my 3 year old daughter though.  She really liked watching sunshine peek out to eat and then hide (play hide and seek with her she called it)  as she got near the tank.  I haven't told her yet.  I just said he must be hiding well when she asked where he was yesterday.  I suppose I should just tell her the truth, that or get another one soon, but she's pretty darn observant she'd probably notice the slightest difference.