diff --git a/crates/adapters/activitypub-base/src/service.rs b/crates/adapters/activitypub-base/src/service.rs
index 73a4c5d..c88aa1f 100644
--- a/crates/adapters/activitypub-base/src/service.rs
+++ b/crates/adapters/activitypub-base/src/service.rs
@@ -1528,8 +1528,26 @@ impl domain::ports::FederationActionPort for ActivityPubService {
     ) -> Result<Vec<domain::models::remote_note::RemoteNote>, domain::errors::DomainError> {
         use chrono::DateTime;
 
-        let url = format!("{}?page={}", outbox_url, page);
-        let resp: serde_json::Value = reqwest::Client::new()
+        // Fetch the base outbox to find the real first-page URL.
+        // Mastodon uses ?page=true; other servers may use ?page=1 or a different param.
+        let client = reqwest::Client::new();
+        let base: serde_json::Value = client
+            .get(outbox_url)
+            .header("Accept", "application/activity+json, application/ld+json")
+            .send()
+            .await
+            .map_err(|e| domain::errors::DomainError::ExternalService(e.to_string()))?
+            .json()
+            .await
+            .map_err(|e| domain::errors::DomainError::ExternalService(e.to_string()))?;
+
+        // Prefer the `first` link from the OrderedCollection; fall back to ?page=1.
+        let url = base["first"]
+            .as_str()
+            .map(|s| s.to_string())
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| format!("{}?page={}", outbox_url, page));
+
+        let resp: serde_json::Value = client
             .get(&url)
             .header("Accept", "application/activity+json, application/ld+json")
             .send()
diff --git a/crates/adapters/postgres/src/activitypub.rs b/crates/adapters/postgres/src/activitypub.rs
index f0b3688..664d034 100644
--- a/crates/adapters/postgres/src/activitypub.rs
+++ b/crates/adapters/postgres/src/activitypub.rs
@@ -154,10 +154,16 @@ impl ActivityPubRepository for PgActivityPubRepository {
             return Ok(id);
         }
         let new_id = uuid::Uuid::new_v4();
-        let handle = actor_ap_url
+        let raw = actor_ap_url
             .path()
             .trim_start_matches('/')
             .replace('/', "_");
+        // username column is VARCHAR(32); truncate long paths (e.g. UUID-based actor URLs)
+        let handle = if raw.len() <= 32 {
+            raw
+        } else {
+            format!("remote_{}", &new_id.to_string()[..13])
+        };
         sqlx::query(
             "INSERT INTO users(id,username,email,password_hash,local,ap_id,created_at,updated_at)
              VALUES($1,$2,$3,'',false,$4,NOW(),NOW()) ON CONFLICT(ap_id) DO NOTHING",