diff --git a/api/conf/settings/databases.py b/api/conf/settings/databases.py
index 3568bf43ef..fb28e330a7 100644
--- a/api/conf/settings/databases.py
+++ b/api/conf/settings/databases.py
@@ -12,6 +12,12 @@
         "USER": config("DJANGO_DATABASE_USER", default="deploy"),
         "PASSWORD": config("DJANGO_DATABASE_PASSWORD", default="deploy"),
         "NAME": config("DJANGO_DATABASE_NAME", default="openledger"),
+        # Default of 30 matches RDS documentation's advised max DNS caching time
+        # https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonRDS/latest/UserGuide/CHAP_BestPractices.html#CHAP_BestPractices.DiskPerformance
+        "CONN_MAX_AGE": config("DJANGO_CONN_MAX_AGE", default=30),
+        "CONN_HEALTH_CHECKS": config(
+            "DJANGO_CONN_HEALTH_CHECKS", default=True, cast=bool
+        ),
         "OPTIONS": {
             "application_name": config(
                 "DJANGO_DATABASE_APPLICATION_NAME", default="openverse-api"