People join the isopod hobby for a variety of reasons and one question that I am often asked is “What do you recommend for a beginner”? My usual answer is, “Well, that depends”. There are many isopods out there and while most of them are pretty beginner friendly, there are some that give even the most experienced keepers some issues.
I’m going to focus on a few elements which I think will help break down the different reasons for keeping the isopods that I will mention.
Cost – How affordable are the isopods themselves. For this area I will use the standard culture size of a 10 count for my reference guide.
Availability – Are these isopods easy to purchase? Can they be found widespread throughout the hobby? Etc.
Care- Are these isopods easy to set up and care for? Do they breed easily? Can the supplies needed to care for them be sourced locally or online with ease?
Looks- Everyone wants an isopod that is going to stand out or produce some great new morph, right? While there are many isopods in the hobby and more being added all the time, someone just starting out can easily get overwhelmed or easily lured in by pretty colors and patterns.
This one may surprise some people, but my first suggestion is always to look in your yard for wild caught isopods! Especially if someone is looking to keep them as pets. If they are wanting a cleanup crew for a larger enclosure, then I do recommend breeding a few generations of isopods first, to ensure no diseases or parasites are hitching a ride in with your newly caught friends. This was the way that I entered the hobby, though being in Florida, I’m sure is an advantage. I was able to procure several species a few steps from my back door, including Cubaris murina “little sea”, Armadillidium vulgare and Porcellionides pruinosus “Powder Blue”. This way is the most cost effective that I have found, and the trees and plant life in your yard are probably a great source of nutrition for the isopods you will find. The only issue can be availability because for some people, this simply is not an option.
When it comes to easy to take care of and easy to find there is an isopod that quickly stands out. This species even produces some amazing color varieties. The Armadillidium vulgare species is often what most of us think of when we imagine a roly-poly, pill bug or isopod. These armored little arthropods are found in almost every state, online and at local pet stores and expos even. They are quite hardy and can tolerate a wide temperature range, humidity scale and are not very picky eaters.
Two of my favorite Armadillidium vulgare that I keep personally are my wild type colony that I have had for a few years now and my Armadillidium vulgare “Magic Potion” isopods. A great way to really get good value for money is to get what is known as a “Gem Mix” in which sellers like myself will often mix various color morphs of a species like the Armadillidium vulgare. When purchasing a colony of the Armadillidium vulgare isopods from a seller online or at an expo the price for a ten count usually ranges from $20-50. 
(An image showing Armadillidium vulgare "Gem Mix" taken by: Desirea Santillana)
Pick 3- My third pick when it comes to beginner friendly isopods is the Porcellio scaber. The sheer amount of variety in this species is staggering and the patterns and colors often produced are amazing. This isopod is commonly found in yards, online and at expos. They are hardy and make a great addition to a bioactive enclosure or are fun to watch as little pets due to their activity level once established. Porcellio scaber A colony of 10 individuals can be bought for $8-50 depending on the morph. My three favorite morphs include Porcellio scaber “Dalmatian”, P. scaber “Lava” and Porcellio scaber “Orange Koi"
(Left- Image of Porcellio scaber "Orange Koi", Right - Image of Porcellio scaber "Lava" taken by Desirea Santillana)
Pick 4- My last pick is a species that I am personally fond of, the Cubaris murina. Many people are used to seeing their distant cousins the cubaris “Rubber Ducky” and while the duckies are adorable, their prices and care requirements are not something most people are ready for. I will tell anyone that Cubaris murina is a great stepping stone to getting the experience needed to meet the requirements of more expensive cubaris species. There are a few morphs available now, such as “Papaya”, “Glacier”, “Anemone” and “Florida Orange” which I isolated from a wild caught individual and developed further. These industrious isopods are good for first time owners because they can tolerate a range of humidity and temperature levels. They are easy to find in the hobby, either online or at pet expos and the cost can range from $10- $60 for a ten-count colony. 
( Image of Cubaris murina "Little Seas" taken by Desirea Santillana)