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I recently bought a submersible heater last weekend and a thermometer. I put the heater in the corner of the tank, with the thermometer right next to it. The temperature is reading 72-75*F. Filbert started shedding pretty badly around his neck. So... thinking that it was too warm for him, I turned off the heater. The temperature is still reading 75*... this isn't too warm for him, is it???

75 should be fine. Usually for hatchlings it's recommended that you even go up to 78F.
Can you post picture? Another thing that can trigger heavy shedding is a drastic change in water quality. How long have you had Filbert? Do you have a basking area with proper lighting?

I don't have any pictures yet (someone's borrowing my camera). I've had him about a month and there is a basking area. But I'm not sure if he actually uses it or not because he's still jumpy around me when I walk near his tank (or into the room for that matter). I did change out all of the water in his tank the last time, but I used the same ol' tap water from before.

You should use a digital thermometer and put the sensor on the opposite side of the tank from where the heater is to get a true temperature reading.
shedding is normal......

Sometimes, when you change a turtle's environment, whether dramatically or just a little bit, they go through natural physical changes. I guess you could call that their way of adapting to something new.

75 is a fantastic temperature for a hatchling, and like Bulldog said, it can go up to 78 no problem.

My mother keeps asking me if my turtles have a "disease", because until this morning, Hurricane was swimming around with a flap of shed skin still stuck to her chin. I don't think, in her whole life, she's ever dealt with any sort of reptile. I purposely pointed out this site to her, so she could come and check everything out and ask questions. She loves them a lot and is really fascinated by them.

I just bought 2 new thermometers, one for the water (opposite corner of the tank) and one for the basking area.

Both water thermometers are still reading 75*F and the basking area is between 84 and 86*F. I'm going out and buying a UVB light today, and I'm just sorry that it took me so long to get one.

Another side question... Does excessive shedding *hurt* a turtle? (Like, do they feel pain from it??? I should think that I would...)

KatieSmeltzer wrote:I just bought 2 new thermometers, one for the water (opposite corner of the tank) and one for the basking area.

Both water thermometers are still reading 75*F and the basking area is between 84 and 86*F. I'm going out and buying a UVB light today, and I'm just sorry that it took me so long to get one.

Another side question... Does excessive shedding *hurt* a turtle? (Like, do they feel pain from it??? I should think that I would...)

I would assume having vulnerable layers of skin would probably hurt somewhat. I do know that excessive shedding can lead to various skin infections.