diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a5f203c6..8315f54e 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Fixed
+
+- **Queue-age metrics no longer count vt-parked (scheduled/retrying) messages — one delayed job stops reading as a degraded queue (issue #389).** ⚠️ **Behavior change on the AppSignal `pgbus_queue_latency` gauge.** pgmq's `oldest_msg_age_sec` is computed from `enqueued_at` and ignores `vt`, but a job enqueued with `wait:` or parked on a long retry backoff lives in the queue table with a future `vt` — that *is* the delayed-delivery mechanism. So a single parked message made the age metric grow at wall-clock rate for hours on an otherwise drained queue, and any latency alert thresholding on it fired continuously ("oldest message is 17045s old" on a healthy queue with depth 1, `read_ct` 0). Every metrics surface now also exposes **`oldest_claimable_age_sec`** — `now() - min(vt)` over rows with `vt <= now()`, i.e. the age of the oldest message actually *eligible for pickup*: an immediately-enqueued message contributes from enqueue time (matching the old number on a plain backlog), a scheduled/backoff-parked message contributes nothing until due, an in-flight message (vt pushed forward) is excluded, and nil means "no claimable backlog" even when the table is non-empty. Surfaces: `Web::DataSource` (dashboard, JSON API, MCP `pgbus_queues` tool), a new Prometheus gauge `pgbus_queue_oldest_claimable_age_seconds`, a new AppSignal gauge `pgbus_queue_oldest_claimable_age_seconds`, `Pgbus::Client#oldest_claimable_ages` (raw-SQL reader, since pgmq's `metrics_result` type is frozen upstream), and a CLAIMABLE column in `pgbus queues`. The AppSignal **`pgbus_queue_latency` gauge now derives from the claimable age** and always emits — `(claimable_age || 0) * 1000`, 0 = no claimable backlog — so existing latency alerts stop false-firing with no dashboard changes; the raw `pgbus_queue_oldest_message_age_seconds` gauge keeps its enqueue-time semantics everywhere. The dashboard queue tables additionally split depth into **Parked** (`depth − visible`) and show the claimable age in place of the raw age, so a queue holding only backoff retries reads visibly healthy. Refs #389.
+
 ### Added
 
 - **Health-checked rolling restarts for the job container (issue #386).** ⚠️ **Behavior change on the standalone `/readyz`.** The supervisor's `health_port` server previously answered `/readyz` with the cluster-wide HealthAnalyzer verdict — so during a rolling deploy a freshly-booted container could pass an orchestrator's health gate on the strength of the *old* container's still-heartbeating workers, and the old container (with all its capacity) was stopped before the new one had forked a single child. The standalone `/readyz` is now **container-local**: 200 only when *this* supervisor verified its connection, bootstrapped queues, forked every configured child, and all of them are currently alive — with 503 bodies `BOOTING` (pre-boot), `DEGRADED` (a child died and is waiting out crash-restart backoff — precisely the state a deploy gate must fail on, keeping the old container running), and `DRAINING` (stop signal received). No database access on the probe path; the supervisor publishes an immutable snapshot per monitor pass and the accept thread reads it. The Rails-mounted `Pgbus::Web::HealthApp` keeps the cluster-wide verdict unchanged. Alongside it: **`pgbus-health`**, a shipped executable probe for docker `HEALTHCHECK` blocks (plain Ruby + stdlib sockets, loads neither Bundler nor the gem — cheap at 1–5s intervals, works in curl-less images; exit 0/1/2 = healthy/unhealthy/usage), and a README "Rolling restarts (Kamal, docker)" guide covering the healthcheck block, stop-timeout alignment, overlap-window duplicate-supervisor safety, and the `read_ct`-vs-deploy-kill DLQ caveat. Refs #386.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index cfeb82ab..709ccf75 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -991,6 +991,7 @@ When `config.metrics_enabled = true` (default), the dashboard exposes Prometheus
 
 | Metric | Description |
 |--------|-------------|
+| `pgbus_queue_oldest_claimable_age_seconds` | Age of the oldest message eligible for pickup (visibility timeout elapsed) — safe to alert on: scheduled/backoff-parked messages don't count until due; the series is omitted entirely when no claimable backlog exists (while the raw `pgbus_queue_oldest_message_age_seconds` gauge may still report a parked message's age) |
 | `pgbus_table_dead_tuples` | Dead tuple count per PGMQ table |
 | `pgbus_table_live_tuples` | Live tuple count per PGMQ table |
 | `pgbus_table_bloat_ratio` | Dead / (dead + live) per table |
diff --git a/app/views/pgbus/dashboard/_queues_table.html.erb b/app/views/pgbus/dashboard/_queues_table.html.erb
index 29a41bdf..624d0116 100644
--- a/app/views/pgbus/dashboard/_queues_table.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/pgbus/dashboard/_queues_table.html.erb
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@
             <th class="px-4 py-3 text-left text-xs font-medium uppercase text-gray-500"><%= t("pgbus.dashboard.queues_table.headers.queue") %></th>
             <th class="px-4 py-3 text-right text-xs font-medium uppercase text-gray-500"><%= t("pgbus.dashboard.queues_table.headers.depth") %></th>
             <th class="px-4 py-3 text-right text-xs font-medium uppercase text-gray-500"><%= t("pgbus.dashboard.queues_table.headers.visible") %></th>
-            <th class="px-4 py-3 text-right text-xs font-medium uppercase text-gray-500"><%= t("pgbus.dashboard.queues_table.headers.oldest") %></th>
+            <th class="px-4 py-3 text-right text-xs font-medium uppercase text-gray-500"><%= t("pgbus.dashboard.queues_table.headers.parked") %></th>
+            <th class="px-4 py-3 text-right text-xs font-medium uppercase text-gray-500"><%= t("pgbus.dashboard.queues_table.headers.oldest_claimable") %></th>
             <th class="px-4 py-3 text-right text-xs font-medium uppercase text-gray-500"><%= t("pgbus.dashboard.queues_table.headers.total") %></th>
           </tr>
         </thead>
@@ -25,12 +26,13 @@
               </td>
               <td data-label="Depth" class="px-4 py-3 text-sm text-right text-gray-700"><%= pgbus_number(q[:queue_length]) %></td>
               <td data-label="Visible" class="px-4 py-3 text-sm text-right text-gray-700"><%= pgbus_number(q[:queue_visible_length]) %></td>
-              <td data-label="Oldest" class="px-4 py-3 text-sm text-right text-gray-500"><%= q[:oldest_msg_age_sec] || "—" %></td>
+              <td data-label="Parked" class="px-4 py-3 text-sm text-right text-gray-500"><%= pgbus_number(q[:parked_length]) %></td>
+              <td data-label="Oldest claimable" class="px-4 py-3 text-sm text-right text-gray-500"><%= q[:oldest_claimable_age_sec] || "—" %></td>
               <td data-label="Total" class="px-4 py-3 text-sm text-right text-gray-500"><%= pgbus_number(q[:total_messages]) %></td>
             </tr>
           <% end %>
           <% if @queues.empty? %>
-            <tr><td colspan="5" class="px-4 py-8 text-center text-sm text-gray-400"><%= t("pgbus.dashboard.queues_table.empty") %></td></tr>
+            <tr><td colspan="6" class="px-4 py-8 text-center text-sm text-gray-400"><%= t("pgbus.dashboard.queues_table.empty") %></td></tr>
           <% end %>
         </tbody>
       </table>
diff --git a/app/views/pgbus/queues/_queues_list.html.erb b/app/views/pgbus/queues/_queues_list.html.erb
index ddad678f..1e0835c0 100644
--- a/app/views/pgbus/queues/_queues_list.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/pgbus/queues/_queues_list.html.erb
@@ -6,7 +6,8 @@
           <th class="px-4 py-3 text-left text-xs font-medium uppercase text-gray-500"><%= t("pgbus.queues.queues_list.headers.queue") %></th>
           <th class="px-4 py-3 text-right text-xs font-medium uppercase text-gray-500"><%= t("pgbus.queues.queues_list.headers.depth") %></th>
           <th class="px-4 py-3 text-right text-xs font-medium uppercase text-gray-500"><%= t("pgbus.queues.queues_list.headers.visible") %></th>
-          <th class="px-4 py-3 text-right text-xs font-medium uppercase text-gray-500"><%= t("pgbus.queues.queues_list.headers.oldest") %></th>
+          <th class="px-4 py-3 text-right text-xs font-medium uppercase text-gray-500"><%= t("pgbus.queues.queues_list.headers.parked") %></th>
+          <th class="px-4 py-3 text-right text-xs font-medium uppercase text-gray-500"><%= t("pgbus.queues.queues_list.headers.oldest_claimable") %></th>
           <th class="px-4 py-3 text-right text-xs font-medium uppercase text-gray-500"><%= t("pgbus.queues.queues_list.headers.newest") %></th>
           <th class="px-4 py-3 text-right text-xs font-medium uppercase text-gray-500"><%= t("pgbus.queues.queues_list.headers.total_ever") %></th>
           <th class="px-4 py-3 text-right text-xs font-medium uppercase text-gray-500"><%= t("pgbus.queues.queues_list.headers.actions") %></th>
@@ -24,7 +25,8 @@
             </td>
             <td data-label="Depth" class="px-4 py-3 text-sm text-right font-mono text-gray-700"><%= pgbus_number(q[:queue_length]) %></td>
             <td data-label="Visible" class="px-4 py-3 text-sm text-right font-mono text-gray-700"><%= pgbus_number(q[:queue_visible_length]) %></td>
-            <td data-label="Oldest" class="px-4 py-3 text-sm text-right text-gray-500"><%= q[:oldest_msg_age_sec] || "—" %></td>
+            <td data-label="Parked" class="px-4 py-3 text-sm text-right font-mono text-gray-500"><%= pgbus_number(q[:parked_length]) %></td>
+            <td data-label="Oldest claimable" class="px-4 py-3 text-sm text-right text-gray-500"><%= q[:oldest_claimable_age_sec] || "—" %></td>
             <td data-label="Newest" class="px-4 py-3 text-sm text-right text-gray-500"><%= q[:newest_msg_age_sec] || "—" %></td>
             <td data-label="Total" class="px-4 py-3 text-sm text-right text-gray-500"><%= pgbus_number(q[:total_messages]) %></td>
             <td data-label="Actions" class="px-4 py-3 text-sm text-right space-x-2">
@@ -51,7 +53,7 @@
           </tr>
         <% end %>
         <% if @queues.empty? %>
-          <tr><td colspan="7" class="px-4 py-8 text-center text-sm text-gray-400"><%= t("pgbus.queues.queues_list.empty") %></td></tr>
+          <tr><td colspan="8" class="px-4 py-8 text-center text-sm text-gray-400"><%= t("pgbus.queues.queues_list.empty") %></td></tr>
         <% end %>
       </tbody>
     </table>
diff --git a/app/views/pgbus/queues/show.html.erb b/app/views/pgbus/queues/show.html.erb
index 1225593b..8065cc46 100644
--- a/app/views/pgbus/queues/show.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/pgbus/queues/show.html.erb
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@
       <p class="text-sm text-gray-500 mt-1">
         <%= t("pgbus.queues.show.depth") %> <span class="font-mono"><%= @queue[:queue_length] %></span> |
         <%= t("pgbus.queues.show.visible") %> <span class="font-mono"><%= @queue[:queue_visible_length] %></span> |
+        <%= t("pgbus.queues.show.parked") %> <span class="font-mono"><%= @queue[:parked_length] %></span> |
+        <%= t("pgbus.queues.show.oldest") %> <span class="font-mono"><%= @queue[:oldest_msg_age_sec] || "—" %></span> |
+        <%= t("pgbus.queues.show.oldest_claimable") %> <span class="font-mono"><%= @queue[:oldest_claimable_age_sec] || "—" %></span> |
         <%= t("pgbus.queues.show.total") %> <span class="font-mono"><%= pgbus_number(@queue[:total_messages]) %></span>
       </p>
     <% end %>
diff --git a/config/locales/da.yml b/config/locales/da.yml
index 4c77443b..0c9b344e 100644
--- a/config/locales/da.yml
+++ b/config/locales/da.yml
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@ da:
         empty: Ingen køer fundet
         headers:
           depth: Dybde
-          oldest: Ældste (s)
+          oldest_claimable: Ældste tilgængelig (s)
+          parked: Parkeret
           queue: Kø
           total: Total
           visible: Synlig
@@ -475,7 +476,8 @@ da:
           actions: Handlinger
           depth: Dybde
           newest: Nyeste (s)
-          oldest: Ældste (s)
+          oldest_claimable: Ældste tilgængelig (s)
+          parked: Parkeret
           queue: Kø
           total_ever: Total nogensinde
           visible: Synlig
@@ -516,6 +518,9 @@ da:
           scheduled: 'Planlagt:'
           timezone: 'Tidszone:'
           visible_at: 'Synlig fra:'
+        oldest: 'Ældste:'
+        oldest_claimable: 'Ældste tilgængelig:'
+        parked: 'Parkeret:'
         pause: Pause
         pause_confirm: Pause behandling?
         purge_confirm: Rens alle beskeder?
diff --git a/config/locales/de.yml b/config/locales/de.yml
index 13fd0da0..e02aad16 100644
--- a/config/locales/de.yml
+++ b/config/locales/de.yml
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@ de:
         empty: Keine Warteschlangen gefunden
         headers:
           depth: Tiefe
-          oldest: Älteste (s)
+          oldest_claimable: Älteste verfügbar (s)
+          parked: Geparkt
           queue: Warteschlange
           total: Gesamt
           visible: Sichtbar
@@ -475,7 +476,8 @@ de:
           actions: Aktionen
           depth: Tiefe
           newest: Neueste (s)
-          oldest: Älteste (s)
+          oldest_claimable: Älteste verfügbar (s)
+          parked: Geparkt
           queue: Warteschlange
           total_ever: Insgesamt jemals
           visible: Sichtbar
@@ -516,6 +518,9 @@ de:
           scheduled: 'Geplant:'
           timezone: 'Zeitzone:'
           visible_at: 'Sichtbar ab:'
+        oldest: 'Älteste:'
+        oldest_claimable: 'Älteste verfügbar:'
+        parked: 'Geparkt:'
         pause: Pause
         pause_confirm: Verarbeitung pausieren?
         purge_confirm: Alle Nachrichten löschen?
diff --git a/config/locales/en.yml b/config/locales/en.yml
index d510e2cc..df456900 100644
--- a/config/locales/en.yml
+++ b/config/locales/en.yml
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@ en:
         empty: No queues found
         headers:
           depth: Depth
-          oldest: Oldest (s)
+          oldest_claimable: Oldest claimable (s)
+          parked: Parked
           queue: Queue
           total: Total
           visible: Visible
@@ -475,7 +476,8 @@ en:
           actions: Actions
           depth: Depth
           newest: Newest (s)
-          oldest: Oldest (s)
+          oldest_claimable: Oldest claimable (s)
+          parked: Parked
           queue: Queue
           total_ever: Total Ever
           visible: Visible
@@ -516,6 +518,9 @@ en:
           scheduled: 'Scheduled at:'
           timezone: 'Timezone:'
           visible_at: 'Visible at:'
+        oldest: 'Oldest:'
+        oldest_claimable: 'Oldest claimable:'
+        parked: 'Parked:'
         pause: Pause
         pause_confirm: Pause processing?
         purge_confirm: Purge all messages?
diff --git a/config/locales/es.yml b/config/locales/es.yml
index 4ee6de0d..dc26fb54 100644
--- a/config/locales/es.yml
+++ b/config/locales/es.yml
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@ es:
         empty: No se encontraron colas
         headers:
           depth: Profundidad
-          oldest: El más antiguo (s)
+          oldest_claimable: Más antiguo disponible (s)
+          parked: Aparcados
           queue: Cola
           total: Total
           visible: Visible
@@ -475,7 +476,8 @@ es:
           actions: Acciones
           depth: Profundidad
           newest: Más nuevo (s)
-          oldest: Más antiguo (s)
+          oldest_claimable: Más antiguo disponible (s)
+          parked: Aparcados
           queue: Cola
           total_ever: Total acumulado
           visible: Visible
@@ -516,6 +518,9 @@ es:
           scheduled: 'Programado:'
           timezone: 'Zona horaria:'
           visible_at: 'Visible en:'
+        oldest: 'Más antiguo:'
+        oldest_claimable: 'Más antiguo disponible:'
+        parked: 'Aparcados:'
         pause: Pausar
         pause_confirm: "¿Pausar el procesamiento?"
         purge_confirm: "¿Purgar todos los mensajes?"
diff --git a/config/locales/fi.yml b/config/locales/fi.yml
index 1cc22ccc..57b0ea4b 100644
--- a/config/locales/fi.yml
+++ b/config/locales/fi.yml
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@ fi:
         empty: Jonot eivät löytyneet
         headers:
           depth: Syvyys
-          oldest: Vanhin (s)
+          oldest_claimable: Vanhin saatavilla (s)
+          parked: Pysäköidyt
           queue: Jono
           total: Yhteensä
           visible: Näkyvissä
@@ -475,7 +476,8 @@ fi:
           actions: Toiminnot
           depth: Syvyys
           newest: Uusimmat (s)
-          oldest: Vanhimmat (s)
+          oldest_claimable: Vanhin saatavilla (s)
+          parked: Pysäköidyt
           queue: Jono
           total_ever: Yhteensä koskaan
           visible: Näkyvissä
@@ -516,6 +518,9 @@ fi:
           scheduled: 'Aikataulutettu:'
           timezone: 'Aikavyöhyke:'
           visible_at: 'Näkyvissä:'
+        oldest: 'Vanhin:'
+        oldest_claimable: 'Vanhin saatavilla:'
+        parked: 'Pysäköidyt:'
         pause: Tauko
         pause_confirm: Keskeytetäänkö käsittely?
         purge_confirm: Tyhjennetäänkö kaikki viestit?
diff --git a/config/locales/fr.yml b/config/locales/fr.yml
index d5aa9ec6..a9c61663 100644
--- a/config/locales/fr.yml
+++ b/config/locales/fr.yml
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@ fr:
         empty: Aucune file d'attente trouvée
         headers:
           depth: Profondeur
-          oldest: Le plus ancien (s)
+          oldest_claimable: Plus ancien disponible (s)
+          parked: Différés
           queue: File d'attente
           total: Total
           visible: Visible
@@ -475,7 +476,8 @@ fr:
           actions: Actions
           depth: Profondeur
           newest: Le plus récent (s)
-          oldest: Le plus ancien (s)
+          oldest_claimable: Plus ancien disponible (s)
+          parked: Différés
           queue: File d'attente
           total_ever: Total jamais
           visible: Visible
@@ -516,6 +518,9 @@ fr:
           scheduled: 'Planifié :'
           timezone: 'Fuseau horaire :'
           visible_at: 'Visible à :'
+        oldest: 'Plus ancien :'
+        oldest_claimable: 'Plus ancien disponible :'
+        parked: 'Différés :'
         pause: Pause
         pause_confirm: Mettre en pause le traitement ?
         purge_confirm: Purger tous les messages ?
diff --git a/config/locales/it.yml b/config/locales/it.yml
index 46717511..4d8adc53 100644
--- a/config/locales/it.yml
+++ b/config/locales/it.yml
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@ it:
         empty: Nessuna coda trovata
         headers:
           depth: Profondità
-          oldest: Più vecchio (s)
+          oldest_claimable: Più vecchio disponibile (s)
+          parked: Posticipati
           queue: Coda
           total: Totale
           visible: Visibile
@@ -475,7 +476,8 @@ it:
           actions: Azioni
           depth: Profondità
           newest: Più recente (s)
-          oldest: Più vecchio (s)
+          oldest_claimable: Più vecchio disponibile (s)
+          parked: Posticipati
           queue: Coda
           total_ever: Totale mai
           visible: Visibile
@@ -516,6 +518,9 @@ it:
           scheduled: 'Programmato:'
           timezone: 'Fuso orario:'
           visible_at: 'Visibile alle:'
+        oldest: 'Più vecchio:'
+        oldest_claimable: 'Più vecchio disponibile:'
+        parked: 'Posticipati:'
         pause: Pausa
         pause_confirm: Mettere in pausa l'elaborazione?
         purge_confirm: Eliminare tutti i messaggi?
diff --git a/config/locales/ja.yml b/config/locales/ja.yml
index 6b08c43c..7082ab75 100644
--- a/config/locales/ja.yml
+++ b/config/locales/ja.yml
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@ ja:
         empty: キューが見つかりません
         headers:
           depth: 深さ
-          oldest: 最古 (秒)
+          oldest_claimable: 取得可能な最古 (秒)
+          parked: 待機中
           queue: キュー
           total: 合計
           visible: 表示中
@@ -475,7 +476,8 @@ ja:
           actions: アクション
           depth: 深さ
           newest: 最新 (秒)
-          oldest: 最古 (秒)
+          oldest_claimable: 取得可能な最古 (秒)
+          parked: 待機中
           queue: キュー
           total_ever: 合計数
           visible: 表示中
@@ -516,6 +518,9 @@ ja:
           scheduled: スケジュール済み：
           timezone: タイムゾーン：
           visible_at: 表示可能日時：
+        oldest: '最古:'
+        oldest_claimable: '取得可能な最古:'
+        parked: '待機中:'
         pause: 一時停止
         pause_confirm: 処理を一時停止しますか？
         purge_confirm: すべてのメッセージを削除しますか？
diff --git a/config/locales/nb.yml b/config/locales/nb.yml
index 8ec75aed..51957ca7 100644
--- a/config/locales/nb.yml
+++ b/config/locales/nb.yml
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@ nb:
         empty: Ingen køer funnet
         headers:
           depth: Dybde
-          oldest: Eldste (s)
+          oldest_claimable: Eldste tilgjengelig (s)
+          parked: Parkert
           queue: Kø
           total: Totalt
           visible: Synlig
@@ -475,7 +476,8 @@ nb:
           actions: Handlinger
           depth: Dybde
           newest: Nyeste (s)
-          oldest: Eldste (s)
+          oldest_claimable: Eldste tilgjengelig (s)
+          parked: Parkert
           queue: Kø
           total_ever: Totalt noensinne
           visible: Synlig
@@ -516,6 +518,9 @@ nb:
           scheduled: 'Planlagt:'
           timezone: 'Tidssone:'
           visible_at: 'Synlig fra:'
+        oldest: 'Eldste:'
+        oldest_claimable: 'Eldste tilgjengelig:'
+        parked: 'Parkert:'
         pause: Pause
         pause_confirm: Pause behandling?
         purge_confirm: Rens alle meldinger?
diff --git a/config/locales/nl.yml b/config/locales/nl.yml
index b45df4bb..8b3aab68 100644
--- a/config/locales/nl.yml
+++ b/config/locales/nl.yml
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@ nl:
         empty: Geen wachtrijen gevonden
         headers:
           depth: Diepte
-          oldest: Oudste (s)
+          oldest_claimable: Oudste beschikbaar (s)
+          parked: Geparkeerd
           queue: Wachtrij
           total: Totaal
           visible: Zichtbaar
@@ -475,7 +476,8 @@ nl:
           actions: Acties
           depth: Diepte
           newest: Nieuwste (s)
-          oldest: Oudste (s)
+          oldest_claimable: Oudste beschikbaar (s)
+          parked: Geparkeerd
           queue: Wachtrij
           total_ever: Totaal ooit
           visible: Zichtbaar
@@ -516,6 +518,9 @@ nl:
           scheduled: 'Gepland:'
           timezone: 'Tijdzone:'
           visible_at: 'Zichtbaar op:'
+        oldest: 'Oudste:'
+        oldest_claimable: 'Oudste beschikbaar:'
+        parked: 'Geparkeerd:'
         pause: Pauzeren
         pause_confirm: Verwerking pauzeren?
         purge_confirm: Alle berichten verwijderen?
diff --git a/config/locales/pt.yml b/config/locales/pt.yml
index 8f824c6e..70aa6ac2 100644
--- a/config/locales/pt.yml
+++ b/config/locales/pt.yml
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@ pt:
         empty: Nenhuma fila encontrada
         headers:
           depth: Profundidade
-          oldest: Mais antigo (s)
+          oldest_claimable: Mais antigo disponível (s)
+          parked: Adiados
           queue: Fila
           total: Total
           visible: Visível
@@ -475,7 +476,8 @@ pt:
           actions: Ações
           depth: Profundidade
           newest: Mais novo (s)
-          oldest: Mais antigo (s)
+          oldest_claimable: Mais antigo disponível (s)
+          parked: Adiados
           queue: Fila
           total_ever: Total de todos os tempos
           visible: Visível
@@ -516,6 +518,9 @@ pt:
           scheduled: 'Agendado:'
           timezone: 'Fuso horário:'
           visible_at: 'Visível em:'
+        oldest: 'Mais antigo:'
+        oldest_claimable: 'Mais antigo disponível:'
+        parked: 'Adiados:'
         pause: Pausar
         pause_confirm: Pausar processamento?
         purge_confirm: Limpar todas as mensagens?
diff --git a/config/locales/sv.yml b/config/locales/sv.yml
index b0c617a5..ee67eda8 100644
--- a/config/locales/sv.yml
+++ b/config/locales/sv.yml
@@ -65,7 +65,8 @@ sv:
         empty: Inga köer hittades
         headers:
           depth: Djup
-          oldest: Äldst (s)
+          oldest_claimable: Äldsta tillgänglig (s)
+          parked: Parkerade
           queue: Kö
           total: Totalt
           visible: Synliga
@@ -475,7 +476,8 @@ sv:
           actions: Åtgärder
           depth: Djup
           newest: Nyaste (s)
-          oldest: Äldsta (s)
+          oldest_claimable: Äldsta tillgänglig (s)
+          parked: Parkerade
           queue: Kö
           total_ever: Totalt någonsin
           visible: Synliga
@@ -516,6 +518,9 @@ sv:
           scheduled: 'Schemalagt:'
           timezone: 'Tidszon:'
           visible_at: 'Synlig vid:'
+        oldest: 'Äldsta:'
+        oldest_claimable: 'Äldsta tillgänglig:'
+        parked: 'Parkerade:'
         pause: Pausa
         pause_confirm: Pausa bearbetning?
         purge_confirm: Rensa alla meddelanden?
diff --git a/docs/app/views/docs/pages/observability.rb b/docs/app/views/docs/pages/observability.rb
index efe9f384..e3ac0799 100644
--- a/docs/app/views/docs/pages/observability.rb
+++ b/docs/app/views/docs/pages/observability.rb
@@ -144,7 +144,13 @@ def appsignal
         Load the `appsignal` gem and pgbus auto-installs a subscriber and a minutely
         probe — background-job transactions for every job and handler, `pgbus_`
         counters and distributions, and gauges for queue depth, oldest-message age,
-        DLQ depth, dead tuples, and MVCC horizon. Four importable dashboards ship
+        DLQ depth, dead tuples, and MVCC horizon. `pgbus_queue_latency` is computed
+        from the oldest *claimable* message (visibility timeout elapsed), so a
+        queue holding only scheduled or backoff-parked jobs reads 0 — alert on it
+        without false positives from one delayed job; the raw
+        `pgbus_queue_oldest_message_age_seconds` gauge keeps enqueue-time
+        semantics, and `pgbus_queue_oldest_claimable_age_seconds` reports the
+        claimable age itself. Four importable dashboards ship
         with the gem — `pgbus dashboard --list` enumerates them and
         `pgbus dashboard <name>` prints import-ready JSON for AppSignal's
         "Import dashboard" dialog. Opt out with `config.appsignal_enabled = false`.
diff --git a/lib/pgbus/cli.rb b/lib/pgbus/cli.rb
index 0ab6843b..13d0c6e7 100644
--- a/lib/pgbus/cli.rb
+++ b/lib/pgbus/cli.rb
@@ -177,14 +177,16 @@ def run_doctor
     def list_queues
       Pgbus.client.list_queues
       metrics = Pgbus.client.metrics
+      claimable_ages = Pgbus.client.oldest_claimable_ages
 
-      puts "QUEUE                                    DEPTH      VISIBLE    OLDEST (s)      TOTAL          "
-      puts "-" * 95
+      puts "QUEUE                                    DEPTH      VISIBLE    OLDEST (s)      CLAIMABLE (s)   TOTAL          "
+      puts "-" * 111
 
       Array(metrics).each do |m|
-        puts format("%-40s %-10s %-10s %-15s %-15s",
+        puts format("%-40s %-10s %-10s %-15s %-15s %-15s",
                     m.queue_name, m.queue_length, m.queue_visible_length,
-                    m.oldest_msg_age_sec || "-", m.total_messages)
+                    m.oldest_msg_age_sec || "-", claimable_ages[m.queue_name] || "-",
+                    m.total_messages)
       end
     end
 
diff --git a/lib/pgbus/client.rb b/lib/pgbus/client.rb
index 7b10900a..f43a59e9 100644
--- a/lib/pgbus/client.rb
+++ b/lib/pgbus/client.rb
@@ -543,6 +543,38 @@ def metrics(queue_name = nil)
       end
     end
 
+    # Age (seconds) of the oldest message actually eligible for pickup, i.e.
+    # whose visibility timeout has elapsed. Unlike pgmq's oldest_msg_age_sec
+    # (computed from enqueued_at), a scheduled or backoff-parked message —
+    # future vt — contributes nothing until it comes due, so a queue holding
+    # only parked messages reads nil ("no claimable backlog") instead of an
+    # age growing at wall-clock rate (issue #389). pgmq's metrics_result type
+    # is frozen upstream, so this lives here rather than in the SQL function.
+    #
+    # With a queue name: the age for that (prefixed) queue, or nil.
+    # Without: a hash of every physical queue in pgmq.meta to its age.
+    #
+    # Routes through the pooled @pgmq.with_connection (health-checked, bounded
+    # by the statement/socket timeouts applied at Client#initialize) rather
+    # than a fresh unbounded PG.connect per call — same rationale as
+    # notify_trigger_current?. synchronized: on the shared-Proc path @pgmq
+    # rides the AR raw connection, so the query must serialize against
+    # concurrent PGMQ operations. One checkout spans all per-queue queries;
+    # nothing nests inside it, so the shared pool_size=1 path is safe.
+    def oldest_claimable_ages(queue_name = nil)
+      synchronized do
+        @pgmq.with_connection do |conn|
+          if queue_name
+            claimable_age_for(conn, config.queue_name(queue_name))
+          else
+            names = conn.exec("SELECT queue_name FROM pgmq.meta ORDER BY queue_name")
+                        .map { |row| row["queue_name"] }
+            names.to_h { |name| [name, claimable_age_for(conn, name)] }
+          end
+        end
+      end
+    end
+
     # Snapshot of the PGMQ connection pool: {size:, available:, pool_timeout:}.
     #
     # Reads pgmq-ruby's own pool counters (@pgmq.stats -> {size:, available:})
@@ -948,6 +980,18 @@ def install_pgmq_schema(conn)
       end
     end
 
+    # queue_name is a physical (already prefixed) queue name; sanitized to a
+    # bare identifier before interpolation, same as the dashboard's DataSource.
+    def claimable_age_for(conn, queue_name)
+      qtable = "q_#{QueueNameValidator.sanitize!(queue_name)}"
+      row = conn.exec(<<~SQL).first
+        SELECT EXTRACT(epoch FROM (NOW() - min(vt)))::int AS age_sec
+        FROM pgmq.#{qtable}
+        WHERE vt <= NOW()
+      SQL
+      row && row["age_sec"]&.to_i
+    end
+
     def with_raw_connection
       opts = config.connection_options
       owned = false
diff --git a/lib/pgbus/integrations/appsignal/probe.rb b/lib/pgbus/integrations/appsignal/probe.rb
index 9b155af8..ce5ea321 100644
--- a/lib/pgbus/integrations/appsignal/probe.rb
+++ b/lib/pgbus/integrations/appsignal/probe.rb
@@ -85,10 +85,14 @@ def track_queues
               gauge "queue_visible_depth", q[:queue_visible_length], tags
               gauge "queue_paused", q[:paused] ? 1 : 0, tags
               age = q[:oldest_msg_age_sec]
-              if age
-                gauge "queue_oldest_message_age_seconds", age, tags
-                gauge "queue_latency", age * 1_000, tags
-              end
+              gauge "queue_oldest_message_age_seconds", age, tags if age
+              claimable_age = q[:oldest_claimable_age_sec]
+              gauge "queue_oldest_claimable_age_seconds", claimable_age, tags if claimable_age
+              # Latency = time the oldest *claimable* message has waited for
+              # pickup; a queue holding only vt-parked (scheduled/backoff)
+              # messages is healthy, so 0 — not the raw enqueued_at age, which
+              # grows at wall-clock rate on a parked message (issue #389).
+              gauge "queue_latency", (claimable_age || 0) * 1_000, tags
             end
           rescue StandardError => e
             log_failure("queue metrics", e)
diff --git a/lib/pgbus/mcp/tools/queues_tool.rb b/lib/pgbus/mcp/tools/queues_tool.rb
index 261c2d7d..8ba31fae 100644
--- a/lib/pgbus/mcp/tools/queues_tool.rb
+++ b/lib/pgbus/mcp/tools/queues_tool.rb
@@ -14,6 +14,12 @@ class QueuesTool < BaseTool
           (messages whose visibility timeout has expired and are ready to be
           claimed), oldest/newest message age in seconds, lifetime total, and
           paused state. Use this to answer "are any queues backed up?".
+          oldest_claimable_age_sec is the age of the oldest message actually
+          eligible for pickup — nil means no message is currently claimable:
+          every remaining message is scheduled, backoff-parked, or in flight
+          with a future visibility timeout. A queue whose oldest_msg_age_sec
+          keeps growing while oldest_claimable_age_sec stays nil has no
+          starving backlog — nothing is waiting for a worker.
         DESC
 
         input_schema(properties: {}, required: [])
diff --git a/lib/pgbus/web/data_source.rb b/lib/pgbus/web/data_source.rb
index c9271834..d97ca4ed 100644
--- a/lib/pgbus/web/data_source.rb
+++ b/lib/pgbus/web/data_source.rb
@@ -1177,7 +1177,8 @@ def batched_queue_metrics(queue_names)
               (SELECT EXTRACT(epoch FROM (NOW() - min(enqueued_at)))::int FROM pgmq.#{qtable}) AS oldest_msg_age_sec,
               (SELECT CASE WHEN is_called THEN last_value ELSE 0 END FROM pgmq.#{seq_name}) AS total_messages,
               (SELECT max(read_ct) FROM pgmq.#{qtable}) AS max_read_ct,
-              (SELECT count(*) FROM pgmq.#{qtable} WHERE vt <= NOW() AND read_ct = 0) AS visible_unread_length
+              (SELECT count(*) FROM pgmq.#{qtable} WHERE vt <= NOW() AND read_ct = 0) AS visible_unread_length,
+              (SELECT EXTRACT(epoch FROM (NOW() - min(vt)))::int FROM pgmq.#{qtable} WHERE vt <= NOW()) AS oldest_claimable_age_sec
           SQL
         rescue StandardError => e
           Pgbus.logger.debug { "[Pgbus::Web] Skipping queue metrics for #{name}: #{e.message}" }
@@ -1193,7 +1194,9 @@ def batched_queue_metrics(queue_names)
             name: row["queue_name"],
             queue_length: row["queue_length"].to_i,
             queue_visible_length: row["queue_visible_length"].to_i,
+            parked_length: row["queue_length"].to_i - row["queue_visible_length"].to_i,
             oldest_msg_age_sec: row["oldest_msg_age_sec"]&.to_i,
+            oldest_claimable_age_sec: row["oldest_claimable_age_sec"]&.to_i,
             newest_msg_age_sec: row["newest_msg_age_sec"]&.to_i,
             total_messages: row["total_messages"].to_i,
             max_read_ct: row["max_read_ct"]&.to_i,
@@ -1216,6 +1219,7 @@ def queue_metrics_via_sql(queue_name)
               count(CASE WHEN vt <= NOW() THEN 1 END) AS queue_visible_length,
               EXTRACT(epoch FROM (NOW() - max(enqueued_at)))::int AS newest_msg_age_sec,
               EXTRACT(epoch FROM (NOW() - min(enqueued_at)))::int AS oldest_msg_age_sec,
+              EXTRACT(epoch FROM (NOW() - min(vt) FILTER (WHERE vt <= NOW())))::int AS oldest_claimable_age_sec,
               max(read_ct) AS max_read_ct,
               count(CASE WHEN vt <= NOW() AND read_ct = 0 THEN 1 END) AS visible_unread_length
             FROM pgmq.#{qtable}
@@ -1229,6 +1233,7 @@ def queue_metrics_via_sql(queue_name)
             q_summary.queue_visible_length,
             q_summary.newest_msg_age_sec,
             q_summary.oldest_msg_age_sec,
+            q_summary.oldest_claimable_age_sec,
             q_summary.max_read_ct,
             q_summary.visible_unread_length,
             all_metrics.total_messages
@@ -1241,7 +1246,9 @@ def queue_metrics_via_sql(queue_name)
           name: queue_name,
           queue_length: row["queue_length"].to_i,
           queue_visible_length: row["queue_visible_length"].to_i,
+          parked_length: row["queue_length"].to_i - row["queue_visible_length"].to_i,
           oldest_msg_age_sec: row["oldest_msg_age_sec"]&.to_i,
+          oldest_claimable_age_sec: row["oldest_claimable_age_sec"]&.to_i,
           newest_msg_age_sec: row["newest_msg_age_sec"]&.to_i,
           total_messages: row["total_messages"].to_i,
           max_read_ct: row["max_read_ct"]&.to_i,
diff --git a/lib/pgbus/web/metrics_serializer.rb b/lib/pgbus/web/metrics_serializer.rb
index adbd85c5..aa6347dc 100644
--- a/lib/pgbus/web/metrics_serializer.rb
+++ b/lib/pgbus/web/metrics_serializer.rb
@@ -54,6 +54,15 @@ def append_queue_metrics(lines)
           end
         end
 
+        gauge(lines, "pgbus_queue_oldest_claimable_age_seconds",
+              "Age of the oldest message eligible for pickup (visibility timeout elapsed)") do
+          queues.filter_map do |q|
+            next unless q[:oldest_claimable_age_sec]
+
+            [q[:oldest_claimable_age_sec], { queue: q[:name] }]
+          end
+        end
+
         gauge(lines, "pgbus_queue_paused", "Whether the queue is paused (1) or active (0)") do
           queues.map { |q| [q[:paused] ? 1 : 0, { queue: q[:name] }] }
         end
diff --git a/spec/dummy/lib/stub_data_source.rb b/spec/dummy/lib/stub_data_source.rb
index c28ce911..87cac869 100644
--- a/spec/dummy/lib/stub_data_source.rb
+++ b/spec/dummy/lib/stub_data_source.rb
@@ -18,14 +18,18 @@ def summary_stats
 
     def queues_with_metrics
       [
-        { name: "pgbus_default", queue_length: 85, queue_visible_length: 62,
-          oldest_msg_age_sec: 300, newest_msg_age_sec: 2, total_messages: 12_450 },
-        { name: "pgbus_mailers", queue_length: 22, queue_visible_length: 18,
-          oldest_msg_age_sec: 45, newest_msg_age_sec: 1, total_messages: 8_320 },
-        { name: "pgbus_events", queue_length: 15, queue_visible_length: 13,
-          oldest_msg_age_sec: 120, newest_msg_age_sec: 5, total_messages: 45_000 },
-        { name: "pgbus_default_dlq", queue_length: 3, queue_visible_length: 3,
-          oldest_msg_age_sec: 7200, newest_msg_age_sec: 3600, total_messages: 47 }
+        { name: "pgbus_default", queue_length: 85, queue_visible_length: 62, parked_length: 23,
+          oldest_msg_age_sec: 300, oldest_claimable_age_sec: 240,
+          newest_msg_age_sec: 2, total_messages: 12_450 },
+        { name: "pgbus_mailers", queue_length: 22, queue_visible_length: 18, parked_length: 4,
+          oldest_msg_age_sec: 45, oldest_claimable_age_sec: 30,
+          newest_msg_age_sec: 1, total_messages: 8_320 },
+        { name: "pgbus_events", queue_length: 15, queue_visible_length: 13, parked_length: 2,
+          oldest_msg_age_sec: 120, oldest_claimable_age_sec: 100,
+          newest_msg_age_sec: 5, total_messages: 45_000 },
+        { name: "pgbus_default_dlq", queue_length: 3, queue_visible_length: 3, parked_length: 0,
+          oldest_msg_age_sec: 7200, oldest_claimable_age_sec: 7200,
+          newest_msg_age_sec: 3600, total_messages: 47 }
       ]
     end
 
diff --git a/spec/integration/claimable_age_metrics_spec.rb b/spec/integration/claimable_age_metrics_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..b4aec46d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/integration/claimable_age_metrics_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+require_relative "../integration_helper"
+
+RSpec.describe "Claimable age metrics (integration)", :integration do
+  let(:client) { Pgbus.client }
+
+  before do
+    client.ensure_queue("claimable_test")
+    client.purge_queue("claimable_test")
+  end
+
+  describe "#oldest_claimable_ages" do
+    it "reports nil for a queue holding only a delayed message, while the raw age counts it" do
+      client.send_message("claimable_test", { "delayed" => true }, delay: 3600)
+
+      expect(client.oldest_claimable_ages("claimable_test")).to be_nil
+
+      metrics = client.metrics("claimable_test")
+      expect(metrics.queue_length.to_i).to eq(1)
+      expect(metrics.oldest_msg_age_sec.to_i).to be >= 0
+    end
+
+    it "reports the age once a message is eligible for pickup" do
+      client.send_message("claimable_test", { "now" => true })
+
+      age = client.oldest_claimable_ages("claimable_test")
+      expect(age).to be_an(Integer)
+      expect(age).to be >= 0
+
+      # The age is wall-clock-relative and only grows between the two calls;
+      # an exact match would flake when connecting to a contended server.
+      all = client.oldest_claimable_ages
+      expect(all.fetch(client.config.queue_name("claimable_test"))).to be >= age
+    end
+
+    it "excludes an in-flight message whose visibility timeout was pushed forward" do
+      client.send_message("claimable_test", { "in_flight" => true })
+      client.read_batch("claimable_test", qty: 1, vt: 60)
+
+      expect(client.oldest_claimable_ages("claimable_test")).to be_nil
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/pgbus/cli_spec.rb b/spec/pgbus/cli_spec.rb
index 57f1e0fc..0199683d 100644
--- a/spec/pgbus/cli_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/pgbus/cli_spec.rb
@@ -310,20 +310,37 @@
   end
 
   describe ".list_queues" do
-    it "prints formatted table with queue metrics" do
+    it "prints formatted table with queue metrics including the claimable age" do
       metric = double("metric",
                       queue_name: "pgbus_test_default",
                       queue_length: 10,
                       queue_visible_length: 8,
                       oldest_msg_age_sec: 42,
                       total_messages: 100)
-      allow(mock_client).to receive(:metrics).and_return([metric])
+      allow(mock_client).to receive_messages(metrics: [metric],
+                                             oldest_claimable_ages: { "pgbus_test_default" => 12 })
 
       output = capture_stdout { described_class.list_queues }
 
       expect(output).to include("QUEUE")
+      expect(output).to include("CLAIMABLE")
       expect(output).to include("pgbus_test_default")
-      expect(output).to include("10")
+      expect(output).to include("12")
+    end
+
+    it "prints a dash for a queue holding only vt-parked messages" do
+      metric = double("metric",
+                      queue_name: "pgbus_test_webhooks",
+                      queue_length: 1,
+                      queue_visible_length: 0,
+                      oldest_msg_age_sec: 17_045,
+                      total_messages: 500)
+      allow(mock_client).to receive_messages(metrics: [metric],
+                                             oldest_claimable_ages: { "pgbus_test_webhooks" => nil })
+
+      output = capture_stdout { described_class.list_queues }
+
+      expect(output).to match(/pgbus_test_webhooks.*17045.*-/)
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/spec/pgbus/client_spec.rb b/spec/pgbus/client_spec.rb
index 6677fda5..49486bb7 100644
--- a/spec/pgbus/client_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/pgbus/client_spec.rb
@@ -468,6 +468,47 @@ def initialize(*args, **kwargs); end
     end
   end
 
+  describe "#oldest_claimable_ages" do
+    let(:raw_conn) { double("PG::Connection") }
+
+    before { allow(mock_pgmq).to receive(:with_connection).and_yield(raw_conn) }
+
+    context "with a queue_name" do
+      it "returns the vt-aware age of the oldest claimable message in the prefixed queue" do
+        allow(raw_conn).to receive(:exec)
+          .with(/min\(vt\).*FROM pgmq\.q_pgbus_test_default.*WHERE vt <= NOW\(\)/m)
+          .and_return([{ "age_sec" => "42" }])
+
+        expect(client.oldest_claimable_ages("default")).to eq(42)
+      end
+
+      it "returns nil when only vt-parked (scheduled/retrying) messages remain" do
+        allow(raw_conn).to receive(:exec).and_return([{ "age_sec" => nil }])
+
+        expect(client.oldest_claimable_ages("default")).to be_nil
+      end
+    end
+
+    context "without a queue_name" do
+      it "maps every queue in pgmq.meta to its claimable age" do
+        allow(raw_conn).to receive(:exec)
+          .with(/FROM pgmq\.meta/)
+          .and_return([{ "queue_name" => "pgbus_test_default" }, { "queue_name" => "pgbus_test_mailers" }])
+        allow(raw_conn).to receive(:exec)
+          .with(/FROM pgmq\.q_pgbus_test_default/m)
+          .and_return([{ "age_sec" => "10" }])
+        allow(raw_conn).to receive(:exec)
+          .with(/FROM pgmq\.q_pgbus_test_mailers/m)
+          .and_return([{ "age_sec" => nil }])
+
+        expect(client.oldest_claimable_ages).to eq(
+          "pgbus_test_default" => 10,
+          "pgbus_test_mailers" => nil
+        )
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
   describe "#pool_stats" do
     it "returns pgmq pool stats merged with the configured pool_timeout" do
       allow(mock_pgmq).to receive(:stats).and_return({ size: 5, available: 3 })
diff --git a/spec/pgbus/integrations/appsignal/probe_spec.rb b/spec/pgbus/integrations/appsignal/probe_spec.rb
index d47676b5..9fc05c98 100644
--- a/spec/pgbus/integrations/appsignal/probe_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/pgbus/integrations/appsignal/probe_spec.rb
@@ -20,8 +20,14 @@ def self.set_gauge(name, value, tags = {})
     Class.new do
       def queues_with_metrics
         [
-          { name: "pgbus_default", queue_length: 42, queue_visible_length: 30, oldest_msg_age_sec: 5.0, paused: false },
-          { name: "pgbus_critical", queue_length: 0, queue_visible_length: 0, oldest_msg_age_sec: nil, paused: true }
+          { name: "pgbus_default", queue_length: 42, queue_visible_length: 30, oldest_msg_age_sec: 5.0,
+            oldest_claimable_age_sec: 3.0, paused: false },
+          { name: "pgbus_critical", queue_length: 0, queue_visible_length: 0, oldest_msg_age_sec: nil,
+            oldest_claimable_age_sec: nil, paused: true },
+          # The issue #389 incident shape: one backoff-parked message (future vt) —
+          # raw age grows at wall-clock rate while nothing is claimable.
+          { name: "pgbus_webhooks", queue_length: 1, queue_visible_length: 0, oldest_msg_age_sec: 17_045.0,
+            oldest_claimable_age_sec: nil, paused: false }
         ]
       end
 
@@ -95,22 +101,45 @@ def pool_stats
     expect(depth_gauge[2]).to eq(queue: "pgbus_default")
   end
 
-  it "records queue latency gauge per queue without a hostname tag" do
+  it "records queue latency from the claimable age, not the raw message age" do
     runner = Pgbus::Integrations::Appsignal::Probe::Runner.new(data_source: fake_data_source)
     runner.call
 
     latency = appsignal_class.gauges.find { |g| g[0] == "pgbus_queue_latency" && g[2][:queue] == "pgbus_default" }
     expect(latency).not_to be_nil
-    expect(latency[1]).to eq(5000.0)
+    expect(latency[1]).to eq(3000.0)
     expect(latency[2]).to eq(queue: "pgbus_default")
   end
 
-  it "skips queue latency when oldest_msg_age_sec is nil" do
+  it "reports zero queue latency when nothing is claimable, even with a vt-parked message" do
     runner = Pgbus::Integrations::Appsignal::Probe::Runner.new(data_source: fake_data_source)
     runner.call
 
-    critical_latency = appsignal_class.gauges.find { |g| g[0] == "pgbus_queue_latency" && g[2][:queue] == "pgbus_critical" }
-    expect(critical_latency).to be_nil
+    parked_latency = appsignal_class.gauges.find { |g| g[0] == "pgbus_queue_latency" && g[2][:queue] == "pgbus_webhooks" }
+    expect(parked_latency).not_to be_nil
+    expect(parked_latency[1]).to eq(0)
+
+    empty_latency = appsignal_class.gauges.find { |g| g[0] == "pgbus_queue_latency" && g[2][:queue] == "pgbus_critical" }
+    expect(empty_latency).not_to be_nil
+    expect(empty_latency[1]).to eq(0)
+  end
+
+  it "records the claimable age gauge only when a claimable backlog exists" do
+    runner = Pgbus::Integrations::Appsignal::Probe::Runner.new(data_source: fake_data_source)
+    runner.call
+
+    claimable = appsignal_class.gauges.select { |g| g[0] == "pgbus_queue_oldest_claimable_age_seconds" }
+    expect(claimable.map { |g| g[2][:queue] }).to eq(["pgbus_default"])
+    expect(claimable.first[1]).to eq(3.0)
+  end
+
+  it "keeps the raw oldest message age gauge for vt-parked messages" do
+    runner = Pgbus::Integrations::Appsignal::Probe::Runner.new(data_source: fake_data_source)
+    runner.call
+
+    raw = appsignal_class.gauges.find { |g| g[0] == "pgbus_queue_oldest_message_age_seconds" && g[2][:queue] == "pgbus_webhooks" }
+    expect(raw).not_to be_nil
+    expect(raw[1]).to eq(17_045.0)
   end
 
   it "records active_processes scoped to the current host with hostname tag" do
diff --git a/spec/pgbus/web/data_source_batched_metrics_spec.rb b/spec/pgbus/web/data_source_batched_metrics_spec.rb
index 357e1757..40e8e598 100644
--- a/spec/pgbus/web/data_source_batched_metrics_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/pgbus/web/data_source_batched_metrics_spec.rb
@@ -90,6 +90,58 @@
       expect(result.first[:visible_unread_length]).to eq(4)
     end
 
+    it "selects a vt-aware oldest_claimable_age_sec scoped to claimable rows" do
+      allow(conn).to receive(:select_values)
+        .with(a_string_matching(/pgmq\.meta/))
+        .and_return(%w[pgbus_default])
+
+      allow(conn).to receive(:quote) { |v| "'#{v}'" }
+
+      captured_sql = nil
+      allow(conn).to receive(:select_all) do |sql, _label|
+        captured_sql = sql
+        double(to_a: [{ "queue_name" => "pgbus_default", "queue_length" => "5",
+                        "queue_visible_length" => "3", "newest_msg_age_sec" => "10",
+                        "oldest_msg_age_sec" => "100", "total_messages" => "500",
+                        "max_read_ct" => "2", "visible_unread_length" => "0",
+                        "oldest_claimable_age_sec" => "42" }])
+      end
+
+      result = data_source.queues_with_metrics
+
+      # Age of the oldest message eligible for pickup: min(vt) over claimable
+      # rows, so a scheduled/backoff-parked message (future vt) contributes
+      # nothing until it comes due (issue #389).
+      expect(captured_sql).to include("min(vt)")
+      expect(captured_sql).to include("oldest_claimable_age_sec")
+      expect(result.first[:oldest_claimable_age_sec]).to eq(42)
+      expect(result.first[:parked_length]).to eq(2)
+    end
+
+    it "reports nil claimable age for a queue holding only vt-parked messages" do
+      allow(conn).to receive(:select_values)
+        .with(a_string_matching(/pgmq\.meta/))
+        .and_return(%w[pgbus_default])
+
+      allow(conn).to receive(:quote) { |v| "'#{v}'" }
+
+      # The issue #389 incident: one vt-parked message — an ActiveJob retry
+      # re-enqueued with wait:, so read_ct is 0 and vt is hours in the future.
+      # The raw age grows at wall-clock rate while nothing is eligible for pickup.
+      allow(conn).to receive(:select_all)
+        .with(anything, "Pgbus Batched Queue Metrics")
+        .and_return(double(to_a: [{ "queue_name" => "pgbus_default", "queue_length" => "1",
+                                    "queue_visible_length" => "0", "newest_msg_age_sec" => "17045",
+                                    "oldest_msg_age_sec" => "17045", "total_messages" => "500",
+                                    "max_read_ct" => "0", "visible_unread_length" => "0",
+                                    "oldest_claimable_age_sec" => nil }]))
+
+      result = data_source.queues_with_metrics
+
+      expect(result.first[:oldest_msg_age_sec]).to eq(17_045)
+      expect(result.first[:oldest_claimable_age_sec]).to be_nil
+    end
+
     it "maps a NULL max_read_ct (empty queue) to nil, not 0" do
       allow(conn).to receive(:select_values)
         .with(a_string_matching(/pgmq\.meta/))
diff --git a/spec/pgbus/web/data_source_spec.rb b/spec/pgbus/web/data_source_spec.rb
index 2101606f..af7bef95 100644
--- a/spec/pgbus/web/data_source_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/pgbus/web/data_source_spec.rb
@@ -158,6 +158,28 @@
 
       expect(data_source.queue_detail("missing")).to be_nil
     end
+
+    it "exposes a vt-aware oldest_claimable_age_sec, nil when only parked messages remain" do
+      captured_sql = nil
+      allow(mock_connection).to receive(:select_one) do |sql, _label|
+        captured_sql = sql
+        {
+          "queue_length" => 1,
+          "queue_visible_length" => 0,
+          "oldest_msg_age_sec" => 17_045,
+          "newest_msg_age_sec" => 17_045,
+          "oldest_claimable_age_sec" => nil,
+          "total_messages" => 500
+        }
+      end
+
+      result = data_source.queue_detail("pgbus_critical")
+
+      expect(captured_sql).to include("oldest_claimable_age_sec")
+      expect(captured_sql).to include("min(vt)")
+      expect(result[:oldest_msg_age_sec]).to eq(17_045)
+      expect(result[:oldest_claimable_age_sec]).to be_nil
+    end
   end
 
   describe "#summary_stats" do
diff --git a/spec/pgbus/web/metrics_serializer_spec.rb b/spec/pgbus/web/metrics_serializer_spec.rb
index 8fc9df29..91542407 100644
--- a/spec/pgbus/web/metrics_serializer_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/pgbus/web/metrics_serializer_spec.rb
@@ -10,11 +10,14 @@
   let(:queue_metrics) do
     [
       { name: "pgbus_default", queue_length: 42, queue_visible_length: 40,
-        total_messages: 1000, oldest_msg_age_sec: 120, newest_msg_age_sec: 1, paused: false },
+        total_messages: 1000, oldest_msg_age_sec: 120, oldest_claimable_age_sec: 90,
+        newest_msg_age_sec: 1, paused: false },
       { name: "pgbus_default_dlq", queue_length: 3, queue_visible_length: 3,
-        total_messages: 50, oldest_msg_age_sec: 3600, newest_msg_age_sec: 60, paused: false },
+        total_messages: 50, oldest_msg_age_sec: 3600, oldest_claimable_age_sec: 3600,
+        newest_msg_age_sec: 60, paused: false },
       { name: "pgbus_critical", queue_length: 0, queue_visible_length: 0,
-        total_messages: 500, oldest_msg_age_sec: nil, newest_msg_age_sec: nil, paused: true }
+        total_messages: 500, oldest_msg_age_sec: nil, oldest_claimable_age_sec: nil,
+        newest_msg_age_sec: nil, paused: true }
     ]
   end
 
@@ -110,6 +113,14 @@
       expect(output).not_to include('pgbus_queue_oldest_message_age_seconds{queue="pgbus_critical"}')
     end
 
+    it "includes vt-aware oldest claimable age" do
+      expect(output).to include('pgbus_queue_oldest_claimable_age_seconds{queue="pgbus_default"} 90')
+    end
+
+    it "omits oldest claimable age when no claimable backlog exists" do
+      expect(output).not_to include('pgbus_queue_oldest_claimable_age_seconds{queue="pgbus_critical"}')
+    end
+
     it "includes queue paused gauge (1 for paused, 0 for active)" do
       expect(output).to include('pgbus_queue_paused{queue="pgbus_default"} 0')
       expect(output).to include('pgbus_queue_paused{queue="pgbus_critical"} 1')
diff --git a/spec/support/pgbus/stub_data_source.rb b/spec/support/pgbus/stub_data_source.rb
index f33cc9bd..4fc1cce3 100644
--- a/spec/support/pgbus/stub_data_source.rb
+++ b/spec/support/pgbus/stub_data_source.rb
@@ -202,10 +202,12 @@ def default_health_stats
 
       def default_queues
         [
-          { name: "pgbus_default", queue_length: 10, queue_visible_length: 8,
-            oldest_msg_age_sec: 120, newest_msg_age_sec: 5, total_messages: 500 },
-          { name: "pgbus_default_dlq", queue_length: 2, queue_visible_length: 2,
-            oldest_msg_age_sec: 3600, newest_msg_age_sec: 1800, total_messages: 5 }
+          { name: "pgbus_default", queue_length: 10, queue_visible_length: 8, parked_length: 2,
+            oldest_msg_age_sec: 120, oldest_claimable_age_sec: 90,
+            newest_msg_age_sec: 5, total_messages: 500 },
+          { name: "pgbus_default_dlq", queue_length: 2, queue_visible_length: 2, parked_length: 0,
+            oldest_msg_age_sec: 3600, oldest_claimable_age_sec: 3600,
+            newest_msg_age_sec: 1800, total_messages: 5 }
         ]
       end